A US-Nigerian military operation eliminates the second-in-command of ISIS
ARK News.. U.S. President Donald Trump announced the killing of “Abu Bilal al-Minooka,” described as the second-highest-ranking figure in the Islamic State worldwide.
In a post published Saturday, May 16, 2026, on his platform Truth Social, Trump stated: “Tonight, under my direction, brave American forces and the Nigerian Armed Forces successfully carried out a highly complex and meticulously planned mission to eliminate the world’s most dangerous terrorist.”
He added that “Abu Bilal al-Minooka,” identified as the global second-in-command of ISIS, believed he could hide in Africa, “but he did not know that we had sources tracking his movements.”
Trump further stated that al-Minooka “will no longer terrorize the people of Africa or assist in planning attacks targeting Americans.”
The U.S. president also claimed that the militant group’s operations had significantly declined following the operation, saying, "With his removal, ISIS global operations have been greatly reduced. Thanks to the government of Nigeria for its partnership in this operation.”
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Interior Ministry Announces Arrest of Two Generals from the Assad Regime
Welat TV – Erbil
Anas Khattab, Syria’s Interior Minister, announced the arrest of Major General Wassel al-Oweid, former Deputy Chief of Staff, and Air Force Major General Ibrahim Mahla, former Chief of Staff of the 22nd Air Division.
In a statement posted Friday, May 15, on the platform X, Khattab described al-Oweid and Mahla as “two criminals and symbols of the former bloody regime.”
The ministry had also announced in recent days the arrest of Air Force Major General Jayez Hammoud al-Mosa, as well as Major General Adnan Abboud Halawa, identified as one of the senior officers allegedly responsible for the chemical massacre in Eastern Ghouta.
Authorities further confirmed the arrests of Major General Wajih Al-Abdullah, Brigadier General Khardal Ahmad Dioub, Brigadier General Suhail Fajr Hassan, and Captain Omar Ahmad al-Matar, who headed raid operations within both the State Security Branch and the al-Khatib Branch, among others.
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Drug Smuggling Attempt Foiled at Jdeidet Yabous Border Crossing in Syria
ARK News.. The General Authority for Border Crossings and Customs announced that the Customs Directorate had thwarted an attempt to smuggle narcotic substances at the Jdeidet Yabous border crossing.
The authority stated that customs officials at the Jdeidet Yabous border crossing seized a shipment of narcotics, including 23 kilograms of hashish and an additional 50 grams of an unidentified substance, which had been carefully concealed inside food containers in a vehicle arriving through the crossing.
The authority added that inspection teams also discovered other substances inside the driver’s bag, including Captagon pills.
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Saudi Arabia Provides $1.5 Billion for “Syria Without Camps” Initiative
ARK News.. Saudi Arabia has provided Syria with major support exceeding $1 billion to contribute to the return of Syrians living in camps to their homes and to permanently close the chapter of displacement camps.
Mohammad Bathish, Head of the UN Cooperation Department within the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates’ International Cooperation Directorate, said that Saudi Arabia had provided Syria with support worth $1.5 billion as part of efforts backing the “Syria Without Camps” vision.
Bathish added in a media statement on the sidelines of a workshop organized by the Syrian Emergency and Disaster Management authority in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), aimed at highlighting support for and implementation of the “Syria Without Camps” initiative, that the Syrian government had contacted the European Union and donor countries to discuss support mechanisms that could be provided to Syria during 2026 and 2027.
The workshop was attended by representatives from the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the Planning and Statistics Authority, and was held at the Royal Semiramis Hotel.
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94th Anniversary of the Publication of “Hawar” Magazine in Kurdish Using the Latin Alphabet
ARK News.. Today, Friday, May 15, 2026, marks the 94th anniversary of the publication of Hawar magazine in the Kurdish language using the Latin alphabet by Prince Jaladat Badirkhan in 1932.
Prince Jaladat Ali Badirkhan, born in 1893, was the grandson of the Badirkhan family, rulers of the Emirate of Botan — a principality that established a semi-state entity in Kurdish history. Members of the Badirkhan family consistently faced imprisonment and exile due to their continuous struggle and demands for Kurdish rights.
One of his earliest notable activities was his tour in 1919 alongside the British orientalist Major Noel among Kurdish tribes to collect their oral heritage. Major Noel transcribed what he heard using Latin letters, while Jaladat wrote it in Arabic script. The Latin characters drew his attention and inspired him to adopt them in writing Kurdish.
In 1922, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk issued a decree ordering the exile and killing of Kurdish nationalists. Prince Jaladat was among those listed, forcing him and his brother to flee Turkey and continue their higher education abroad. They settled in Germany, where Jaladat enrolled at Leipzig University’s Faculty of Law and graduated in 1925. During his stay in Germany, he devoted himself to developing a Kurdish alphabet based on Latin letters.
After graduating, he traveled to Egypt before moving to Lebanon and later Damascus. He subsequently toured the Jazira region in Syrian Kurdistan. Upon hearing of the Agrı uprising, he secretly entered Turkey with his brother Kamiran. After the uprising failed, he fled alongside revolutionary leader Ihsan Nuri Pasha to Iran, then sought refuge in Iraq before returning to Damascus and settling there permanently. In Damascus, Jaladat finalized his alphabet, consisting of 31 letters, and published it in the first six issues of Hawar magazine.
In 1935, he married Princess Roshen Badirkhan, daughter of Prince Salih Badirkhan, with whom he had two children, Sinam and Jamshid.
Jaladat wrote nearly all the articles for his magazines and signed them under various pseudonyms, including: Harakal Azizan, Hawar, Ronahi, Sahib Hawar, Sahib Ronahi, Bavi Jamshid, “Farhangvan”, “Chirokvan”, and Stranvan.
As the creator of the Kurdish Latin alphabet, Jaladat Badirkhan is widely regarded as a pioneer of Kurdish journalism in exile. He launched Hawar on May 15, 1932, publishing 57 issues in total. He later supplemented it with an illustrated magazine titled Ronahi (“Light”), whose first issue was printed in April 1942 and continued until September 1944 before reappearing on March 15, 1945, and eventually ceasing publication permanently.
In addition to his native Kurdish, Jaladat mastered several languages, including Turkish, German, Arabic, Persian, French, Greek, English, and Russian.
On July 15, 1951, while supervising workers near a well, the wall of the well suddenly collapsed beneath him, resulting in his death. His funeral procession was attended by a large crowd led by dozens of wreaths, alongside ministers, former ministers, senior military officers, politicians, and notable figures from Damascus. He was buried beside his grandfather, “Badirkhan the Great,” at Sheikh Khalid al-Naqshbandi Cemetery in the Kurdish neighborhood of Rukn al-Din in Damascus.
Among his most notable works are:
Rules of the Kurdish Alphabet (Damascus, 1932)
Pages from the Alphabet (Damascus, 1932)
Introduction to the Prophet’s Mawlid
Yazidi Prayers
A Letter to Mustafa Kemal Pasha (printed in Turkish in Damascus)
The Kurdish Question in French (1934)
Kurdish Grammar in French (1943)
Kurdish Grammar in Kurdish and French (Paris edition, 1990; the French section was translated into Arabic in 1990)
Kurdish-Kurdish Dictionary, a manuscript donated by Roshen Badirkhan to the Kurdish Academy in Baghdad in 1971
The play Havind
Sinem Khan, a grammar book for children
Know Yourself in Kurdish
A collection of poetry.
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Nechirvan Barzani Congratulates Ali Al-Zaidi and His Government on Gaining Confidence of Iraqi Parliament
ARK News.. President of the Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, participated in the Iraqi Parliament session dedicated to granting confidence to Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi and his government.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page on Thursday, May 14, 2026, President Nechirvan Barzani said: “I was pleased to participate in the Iraqi Parliament session this evening (Thursday), dedicated to granting confidence to Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi and his government.”
The President of the Kurdistan Region added: “On this occasion, we extend our warmest congratulations and best wishes to His Excellency and his government, wishing them every success in carrying out their duties and responsibilities in a manner that serves all Iraqis of all components and fulfills their aspirations for greater security, stability, progress, and prosperity.”
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Kurdish National Council Stresses Need to Recognize Kurdish as an Official Language
ARK News.. The Kurdish National Council held its regular meeting on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at the office of the Kurdistan Democratic Party – Syria, in the presence of Council President Mohammad Ismail, members of the presidency body, and the majority of council members.
Participants discussed the latest developments on the Syrian scene in general and the Kurdish political scene in particular, in addition to regional developments and their impact on the area.
The meeting also addressed the activities and political role of the Kurdish National Council, especially its participation in the Syrian People’s Assembly election process and efforts to coordinate with various parties to form a unified electoral list.
The council emphasized the importance of Kurdish participation as a fundamental partner in the upcoming phase, particularly within committees responsible for drafting the constitution and the political parties’ law, in a manner that guarantees the legitimate rights of the Kurdish people and ensures constitutional and political recognition of the Kurdish issue.
The council further stressed the necessity of recognizing the Kurdish language as an official language in the regions of Syrian Kurdistan, alongside guaranteeing the national, cultural, and political rights of the Kurdish people in a future Syria.
The meeting also included the selection of Kurdish National Council members nominated for the Syrian People’s Assembly elections.
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Nechirvan Barzani: Peshmerga Forces Under President Masoud Barzani Crushed the Myth of ISIS Terrorists
ARK News.. Under the patronage and in the presence of Nechirvan Barzani, the Second Military College in Zakho held a graduation ceremony on Thursday, May 14, 2026, for its 30th class of officers, during which he emphasized the pivotal role of the Peshmerga Forces in protecting the Kurdistan Region and stressed the need for Baghdad to fulfill its constitutional obligations toward the forces.
During his speech, Nechirvan Barzani congratulated the graduates, describing the occasion as “a day of pride for all the people of Kurdistan.” He recalled the historic role of the Peshmerga, stating: “Under the leadership of President Masoud Barzani, the Peshmerga defended the land of Kurdistan with their blood, shattered the myth of ISIS terrorists, and prevented the region from falling into their grip. This history is filled with unforgettable heroism and sacrifices.”
The president of the Kurdistan Region also expressed dissatisfaction with the slow pace of the Peshmerga unification process, saying: “The people of Kurdistan have waited for years to see their forces unified. We need strong political will to transform the Peshmerga into a unified national force removed from political disputes and rivalries.”
Nechirvan Barzani praised the support of the international coalition, particularly the United States, for backing the Peshmerga during the war against terrorism and supporting the ministry’s structural reform process.
He also addressed the federal government in Baghdad, calling on it to provide all financial and military entitlements owed to the Peshmerga as an official part of Iraq’s defense system under the constitution.
Addressing the newly graduated officers, he said: “You are the protectors of all citizens of Kurdistan without discrimination. You must adhere to military discipline and the highest national values and serve as models of leadership and justice within our forces.”
The ceremony witnessed the graduation of 359 young officers after completing an intensive nine-month training course that included advanced academic and practical training, after which they joined the Ministry of Peshmerga with the rank of lieutenant.
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Iraqi Court Sentences “Ajjaj Al-Tikriti” to Death for Genocide Crimes Against Kurds
ARK News.. The Iraqi Criminal Court has issued a death sentence by hanging against Ajjaj al-Tikriti after convicting him of committing genocide and crimes against humanity in the “Nuqrat Al Salman" case against Kurds and other Iraqis.
Ajjaj al-Tikriti is considered one of the most prominent figures of the former Iraqi regime implicated in the killing and persecution of hundreds of Kurdish and Iraqi citizens inside the notorious Nuqrat Al-Salman Prison, widely known as the “Prison of Death” during the Al-Anfal Campaign operations and years of political repression.
The ruling comes after years of investigations and legal proceedings and is viewed as both a moral and legal victory for the families of victims and survivors of the massacre, reaffirming that those responsible for the crimes of the former regime will continue to face justice regardless of the passage of time.
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Masrour Barzani: We Remain Committed to Serving the People of Kurdistan in Times of Hardship and Prosperity
ARK News.. Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, expressed his satisfaction with the inauguration of the highest bridge in both the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, located within the Soran Independent Administration, stressing that “difficult circumstances will not hinder our ambitions for construction and development.”
Speaking on Thursday, May 14, 2026, during the inauguration ceremony of an overpass and a dual carriageway measuring 40 meters in width in Soran, Barzani said: “The unfavorable and difficult conditions we have faced have not prevented us from continuing to implement projects and provide services. We are committed to serving the people of Kurdistan in both times of hardship and prosperity, and we will continue our urban development drive thanks to the support and trust of our citizens.”
He also called on drivers to adhere to traffic regulations in order to ensure public safety.
Barzani further wished success to Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi in his mission, stating: “We look forward to effective and genuine participation in the new Iraqi government, and we will be part of it to ensure the full implementation of the constitution and secure all constitutional rights and entitlements of the people of Kurdistan.”
The Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region also expressed hope that the formation of the new government in Baghdad would serve as an incentive to accelerate the formation of the new Kurdistan Regional Government cabinet and the reactivation of the Kurdistan Parliament.
He additionally urged political forces and parties to prioritize the national interest, saying: “I hope the political parties reach a full conviction that forming the regional government and reactivating parliament are urgent demands and a supreme national interest that serve our people and fulfill their aspirations.”
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