Unprecedented Popular Protests Sweep Multiple Iranian Cities
ARK News.. Iran is witnessing an unprecedented wave of popular protests as economic conditions worsen and the national currency plunges to record lows. The U.S. dollar has soared to 95,300 tomans, while the price of a gold bullion has exceeded 79 million tomans.
The currency decline follows remarks by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who reiterated his rejection of negotiations with the United States, further fueling market uncertainty.
Demonstrations have spread across various Iranian cities, with large-scale protests erupting in Tabriz, Sanandaj, Hormozgan, Mariwan, and Bijar. Retirees from the telecommunications sector have continued their weekly Monday gatherings for months, demanding updates to social welfare allocations for 2022 and 2023, improvements in supplementary insurance, and the disbursement of overdue payments at current rates.
In the energy sector, workers at the South Pars Phase 4 refinery staged protests over low wages and poor working conditions, stressing that their salaries remain inadequate amid rising living costs.
Meanwhile, in the healthcare sector, nurses and staff at "Mardani Azar" Hospital in Tabriz staged a demonstration, calling for salary increases and better living conditions. Protesters carried banners reading, "Silence from any nurse is a betrayal to their colleagues."
In Tehran, employees of the University of Tehran held a protest on "16 Azar Street," denouncing low wages and disparities in salary increases across university departments.
Additionally, job applicants for the Ministry of Agricultural Jihad protested outside the Administrative Affairs Organization after the number of announced job openings was slashed from 19,000 to 10,000, depriving thousands of employment opportunities.
158
Washington Post Reports Trump Administration Reviewing Policy Amid Heated White House Exchange
ARK News.. The Trump administration is considering a complete halt to all ongoing military aid to Ukraine following a heated exchange between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, according to a report by The Washington Post on Saturday, March 1, 2025.
Citing a senior U.S. official, The Washington Post revealed that the administration is "weighing the termination of all ongoing military aid shipments to Ukraine," which could include billions of dollars' worth of radar systems, vehicles, ammunition, and missiles.
"The Trump administration is now reviewing its policy, putting billions of dollars in radar systems, vehicles, ammunition, and missiles at stake," the official said.
According to the report, the repercussions of the "explosive meeting" between the two leaders resonated globally. Senior officials in Brussels were reportedly glued to their phones, closely following the verbal clashes.
A high-ranking European diplomat emphasized the urgency for Zelensky to defuse the situation by issuing a statement reaffirming his respect for Trump. Another European official described the confrontation as definitive proof that Europe had lost the U.S. as an ally.
Following the meeting, President Zelensky expressed gratitude for U.S. support and his visit to Washington.
"Thank you, America. Thank you for your support. Thank you for this visit… Ukraine needs a just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly towards that," Zelensky wrote on his personal account on the "X" platform.
Trump reportedly ordered Zelensky to leave the White House despite Ukraine’s desire to continue discussions and canceled a planned joint press conference.
According to a separate CNN report, the future of U.S. military aid for Ukraine’s war effort—as well as Zelensky own political future—now hangs in the balance.
336
With Syria’s Participation, Saudi Arabia to Host an Arab Ministerial Meeting
ARK News.. The newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat revealed that the city of Mecca will host an Arab ministerial meeting at the end of the first week of the upcoming Ramadan, with Syria’s participation, to discuss the ongoing developments in the region, particularly in Gaza and Syria.
The meeting is expected to include the foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, Egypt, Syria, Morocco, and Jordan. It will take place two days after the emergency Arab summit, scheduled to be held in Egypt on March 4, which is dedicated to discussing the situation in Gaza following the plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the future of the region.
The General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council stated that joint ministerial meetings will be held between the GCC foreign ministers and their counterparts from Egypt, Syria, Morocco, and Jordan.
According to Asharq Al-Awsat, the Mecca meeting will focus primarily on regional developments, particularly the situation in Gaza, as well as the political developments in Syria.
290
Netanyahu: Israeli Army to Remain in Southern Syria for the Foreseeable Future
ARK News.. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has affirmed that the Israeli army will remain in southern Syria for the foreseeable future.
In a recorded address to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference in Washington, Netanyahu stated, “In Syria, the Israeli Defense Forces will continue to hold positions atop Mount Harmon,” referring to what is also known as Jabal al-Sheikh.
He added, “As for the adjacent buffer zone, we will remain there for the foreseeable future. We will not allow the presence of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham or any new Syrian army in the area south of Damascus.”
Netanyahu emphasized, “Southern Syria will be a demilitarized zone.”
Last Sunday, the Israeli prime minister said he had demanded the complete withdrawal of the new regime’s military forces from southern Syria, insisting that the area remain a “demilitarized zone.”
183
Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Attends World Government Summit
ARK News.. At the official invitation of the United Arab Emirates, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani departed for the UAE today, Monday, February 10, 2025, leading a government delegation to participate in the World Government Summit, set to be held in Dubai from February 11 to 13.
On the sidelines of the summit, Prime Minister Barzani is scheduled to hold a series of bilateral and high-level meetings with world leaders, senior officials, and decision-makers from across the globe. Additionally, he will engage with prominent figures in the private sector, as well as business leaders and investors from the region and beyond.
These discussions will focus on strengthening and expanding bilateral relations between the Kurdistan Region and various participating entities, with a particular emphasis on economic, investment, trade, and development cooperation. The meetings will also provide an opportunity to exchange perspectives on key regional and global issues.
The participation of the Kurdistan Region delegation, led by Prime Minister Barzani, underscores the KRG's commitment to actively engaging in international efforts aimed at building a more sustainable and prosperous future for future generations. It also reinforces the region’s role as a reliable and proactive partner in the global community.
204
الذكرى السنوية الثانية لزلزال 6 شباط المدمر "جنديرس"
تمر اليوم الخميس 6 شباط، الذكرى السنوية الثانية للزلزال المدمر الذي ضرب شمالي سوريا وجنوبي تركيا. بلغت قوة الزلزال 7.7 درجات أعقبه أخر بقوة 7.6 ومئات الهزات الارتدادية، ما أدى إلى مقتل أكثر من 59 ألف شخصٍ.
ناحية جنديرس في عفرين بكوردستان سوريا، تعد واحدة من أكثر المناطق المتضررة، إذ فقد فيها نحو 1354 شخصاً حياتهم جراء الزلزال، وفق الإحصائيات.
إضافة إلى 489 بناء مهدم بشكل كامل و2529 بناء مهدم بشكل جزئي أو متضرر و24 مدرسة مهدمة ومتضررة.
في تقرير رصد أوضاع السكان المدنيين في مناطق شمال غربي سوريا عقب الزلزال المدمر، قال فريق منسقو استجابة سوريا إن عدد الأسر المتضررة المسجلة بلغ 334,821 عائلة، بعدد أفراد 1,843,911 نسمة.
وجاء في التقرير أن عدد النازحين نتيجة الزلزال نحو 48,122 عائلة، بعدد أفراد 311,662 نسمة يشكل الأطفال والنساء والحالات الخاصة 67% من إجمالي النازحين.
وحول الخسائر البشرية العامة، تحدث الفريق عن توثيق فقدان 4,256 مدني لحياتهم وإصابة 11,774 آخرين، إضافة إلى نقل أكثر من 2240 جثمان من مختلف المعابر الحدودية مع تركيا إلى الداخل السوري، كما تم توثيق حالات مفقودين نتيجة الزلزال، بلغت 67 نسمة.
ولفت إلى أن نسبة الاستجابة الإنسانية منذ الزلزال 47,18 % لكافة القطاعات الإنسانية، ونسبة الاستجابة الإنسانية للمتضررين من الزلزال إضافة إلى مشاريع اخرى بلغت 53.73 %.
245
ممثلية إقليم كوردستان لـENKS ومؤسسة بارزاني الخيرية تناقشان أوضاع اللاجئين
ناقشت ممثلية إقليم كوردستان للمجلس الوطني الكوردي مع مؤسسة بارزاني الخيرية أوضاح اللاجئين وأكد الجانبان على ضرورة الاهتمام بأوضاعهم.
استقبل موسى أحمد، رئيس مؤسسة بارزاني الخيرية، اليوم الأثنين 3 شباط 2025، في رئاسة المؤسسة، وفدا من ممثلية إقليم كوردستان للمجلس الوطني الكوردي في سوريا برئاسة جدعان علي.
خلال اللقاء جرى الحديث عن أوضاع اللاجئين، وأكد الجانبان على ضرورة الاهتمام بأوضاع اللاجئين وحياتهم.
241
مخيم باسرمة.. بارزاني الخيرية تفتتح دورة لتعليم الموسيقى
افتتحت مؤسسة بارزاني الخيرية دورة لتعليم الموسيقى في مخيم باسرمة للاجئين في حدود محافظة أربيل.
قالت مؤسسة بارزاني الخيرية على صفحتها في موقع التواصل الاجتماعي (الفيسبوك) إنها وبالتعاون مع ( The Stirling Foundation ) افتتحت بتاريخ 21 كانون الثاني 2025، دورة لتعليم الموسيقى " العزف على الة الأورغ" في مركز تيريج الثقافي والاجتماعي في مخيم باسرمة في حدود أربيل عاصمة إقليم كوردستان.
وأضافت المؤسسة أن 22 طفلا يشاركون في الدورة، التي ستستمر 10 أيام.
323
US Organization: Austin Tice Still Held in Syria
ARK News.. The head of a U.S.-based organization focused on hostage recovery has stated his belief that American journalist Austin Tice is still being held in Syria by individuals loyal to Bashar al-Assad.
Nizar Zakka, president of the Hostage Support Organization, told Reuters during his visit to Damascus:
"We believe Tice is being held by a very small number of people in a safe house, likely awaiting an exchange or a deal."
Zakka explained that investigations conducted by the organization have concluded that Tice remains in Syria, and "significant progress" has been made in recent weeks toward locating him.
However, he noted that Syria's new administration has not provided substantial assistance. He added:
"We had hoped that Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham would assist us more, but unfortunately, they have not due to their own concerns."
Zakka admitted he does not have precise information on Tice's exact location but believes that a deal, potentially involving pressure from Assad's ally Russia, could lead to the journalist's release.
Tice was detained at a checkpoint in Darayya near Damascus in August 2012. Reuters previously reported that Tice escaped his cell in 2013 and was seen moving between houses in the upscale Mazze neighborhood of Damascus.
According to current and former U.S. officials, he was recaptured shortly after his escape, likely by forces reporting directly to Assad.
391
الرئيس بارزاني يؤكد على أهمية تحقيق وحدة الصف بين الأطراف الكوردية في سوريا
استقبل الرئيس مسعود بارزاني، اليوم الثلاثاء، 14 كانون الثاني 2025، في مصيف صلاح الدين، السيد كريستوفر بيم، سعادة السفير الكندي لدى العراق.
وخلال اللقاء، أكد السفير الكندي أن بلاده تتطلع باهتمام كبير لعلاقاتها مع إقليم كوردستان وتواصل توسيع وتعزيز هذه العلاقات.
كما أعرب السفير عن تهانيه للرئيس بارزاني على نجاح انتخابات برلمان كوردستان التي جرت في تشرين الأول 2024 في أجواء هادئة وبمشاركة شعبية كبيرة، واصفاً العملية الانتخابية بالنموذجية.
من جانبه، قدّم الرئيس بارزاني شكره لحكومة كندا على دعمها لقوات بيشمركة كوردستان خلال الحرب ضد داعش، وشدد على توطيد العلاقات بين الجانبين.
وكانت العلاقات بين حكومة إقليم كوردستان والحكومة الاتحادية العراقية، إلى جانب الأوضاع السياسية والأمنية في المنطقة بما في ذلك سوريا، والمخاطر المحتملة لعودة الإرهاب محاورَ أخرى للقاء.
وفيما يخص الوضع في سوريا ومصير الشعب الكوري فيها؛ أشار الرئيس بارزاني إلى تاريخ من المآسي والحرمان كابده الشعبُ الكوردي في سوريا، مؤكداً على أهمية تحقيق وحدة الصف بين الأطراف الكوردية في سوريا لضمان عدم تكرار الكوارث والمِحَن بحق الشعب الكوردي.
221
