International Coalition Conducts Large-Scale Military Drills at Qasrek Base in Hasaka
ARK News.. Local sources reported that International Coalition forces have carried out extensive military exercises at one of their bases in the countryside of Hasaka, in Kurdistan of Syria.
According to the sources, the drills took place at Qasrek Base, located in the rural areas of Hasaka city, and included ground and aerial combat simulation operations. The exercises involved the use of live ammunition, as well as heavy and medium weapons, amid intensive flights by coalition warplanes over the area.
The sources added that the drills featured maneuvers targeting mock objectives and focused on coordinating offensive operations between ground forces and aerial cover.
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Suwayda: Daily Ceasefire Violations Between Transitional Government Forces and the National Guard
ARK News.. A Syrian human rights source reported that government forces and allied units on one side, and local National Guard forces on the other, are exchanging gunfire on a daily basis in Suwayda province.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated on January 4, 2026, that the rural areas of Suwayda continue to witness repeated violations of the ceasefire, creating a persistent atmosphere of fear and anxiety among civilians.
According to the Observatory, no serious signs of a breakthrough or credible negotiations toward a lasting agreement between the two sides have emerged so far.
It added that since the beginning of 2026, at least four ceasefire violations have been documented in the Suwayda countryside, resulting in seven National Guard members being injured.
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Damascus: One of the Explosions Targeted Senior Figures of the New Syrian Authority
ARK News.. Damascus witnessed three explosions late on Saturday night, January 3, 2026, according to local sources.
The first blast occurred at a military battalion on the hill overlooking Mazze 86, the second in Mazze Villas behind al-Mohammedi Mosque—an area known to be home to senior, first-tier figures of the new Syrian authority—and the third in the vicinity of Mazze Military Airport.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that residents in nearby areas were gripped by fear amid an official blackout by Syrian authorities. No confirmed information has yet emerged regarding casualties or material damage.
The incident comes less than a week after a similar event on the evening of December 30, 2025, when heavy gunfire was heard in the Al-Qasr area, an incident later denied by pro-government media outlets and platforms.
Nearly five days later, no official clarification has been issued regarding those events, raising widespread public questions about the circumstances behind the gunfire, which reportedly lasted several minutes.
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Kurdistan Democratic Party Forms Delegation for Talks on the Iraqi Presidency
ARK News.. The Political Bureau of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) held a high-level meeting on Saturday, January 3, 2026, chaired by President Masoud Barzani, and attended by KDP Vice Presidents Nechirvan Barzani and Masrour Barzani, to discuss current political developments, foremost among them the post of President of the Republic of Iraq.
During the meeting, the KDP decided to form an official negotiating delegation to launch a new round of talks with political forces regarding the constitutional entitlement to the presidency.
According to Kurdistan24, Dr. Danar Abdulghaffar, a member of the KDP parliamentary bloc in the Iraqi parliament, confirmed that the selection of a presidential candidate was the central issue on the meeting’s agenda.
Abdulghaffar explained that no specific candidate has been named so far, noting that the KDP adheres to a vision that the nominee should be a consensus figure enjoying broad national acceptance and agreement among all components of Kurdistan.
He also revealed that the party’s negotiating delegation is expected to begin meetings with other political forces in the Kurdistan Region within the next two days, aiming to reach agreement on a joint Kurdish candidate who would represent the aspirations of the Region in Baghdad.
It is worth noting that the Iraqi parliament has officially opened nominations for the presidency, a position that, since 2003, has traditionally been allocated to the Kurdish component. Decisions and upcoming understandings by the Kurdistan Democratic Party are expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the next political landscape and in safeguarding the constitutional rights of the Kurdistan Region.
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President Barzani’s Congratulatory Message on the Occasion of Qoltas Eid
ARK News.. President Masoud Barzani extended his congratulations on Saturday, January 3, 2026, to the Kaka’i community in Kurdistan, Iraq, and around the world on the occasion of Qoltas Eid.
Full text of the message:
In the Name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate,
On the occasion of Qoltas Eid, I extend my warmest congratulations and best wishes to our Kaka’i sisters and brothers in Kurdistan, Iraq, and across the world.
Kurdistan is a homeland of harmony, brotherhood, and coexistence. I hope that our Kaka’i sisters and brothers, along with all other Kurdish religious and national components, will always celebrate their occasions, holidays, and joys in an atmosphere of peace and stability.
Wishing you continued happiness and well-being.
Masoud Barzani
January 3, 2026
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Donald Trump Announces Arrest and Removal of Venezuelan President Maduro
ARK News.. U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that a major military operation was successfully carried out against Venezuela, resulting in the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, who were reportedly flown out of the country.
Trump stated, "The United States has successfully executed a large-scale operation against Venezuela and its president Nicolás Maduro, who has been arrested along with his wife and transferred outside the country."
He added that the operation was conducted "in cooperation with U.S. law enforcement agencies" and that further details would be released later.
President Trump also announced that he would hold a press conference today at 11:00 AM ET at Mar-a-Lago to provide additional information.
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Around 400 People Killed in Daraa During 2025
ARK News.. A local source reported that approximately 400 people were killed in Syria’s Daraa governorate during 2025, including children and women.
According to the Ahrar Houran Gathering, 399 deaths were documented in Daraa from the beginning of 2025 until the end of December, including 32 children and 17 women. The fatalities included victims of assassinations, criminal acts, clashes, shelling, kidnappings, and remnants of the war.
The report noted that November and December 2025 witnessed a noticeable decrease in the number of deaths compared to previous months, attributing this to intensified security measures, increased patrols, faster responses to criminal incidents, and the pursuit of wanted individuals.
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Syrian Civil Defense Responded to More Than 135,000 Incidents in 2025, Minister Says
ARK News.. Syria’s Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management, Raed Al-Saleh, revealed that the Syrian Civil Defense carried out more than 135,000 emergency responses during 2025, covering fires, medical emergencies, search and rescue operations, in addition to service activities and the removal of war remnants.
According to the state news agency SANA, Al-Saleh stated that Civil Defense teams responded to over 11,000 fires, including 3,000 residential fires and 2,500 forest and agricultural fires.
He added that Civil Defense teams rescued 350 people and responded to more than 270 search and rescue alerts, in addition to handling over 100,000 medical emergency cases. Teams also removed more than 270 items of unexploded ordnance, conducted 1,100 awareness sessions, and reached around 25,000 beneficiaries.
Al-Saleh further noted that the Civil Defense provided more than 18,000 direct service interventions, cleared over 540,000 cubic meters of rubble, and reopened hundreds of kilometers of blocked roads.
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Arida Border Bridge Between Syria and Lebanon Collapses
Welat TV – Erbil
The Arida border bridge linking Syria and Lebanon has collapsed after a significant rise in the river’s water level, caused by heavy rainfall that swept the area over the past several hours, leading to a complete halt of cross-border traffic at the crossing.
Video footage circulating from the site on Friday, January 2, 2026, shows the bridge collapsing across the entire width of the roadway, making the passage of any vehicles impossible at present.
On Thursday, Lebanon’s General Security Directorate announced in a statement that the Arida border crossing had been temporarily closed due to the rising river level and extensive damage to the bridge, particularly on the Syrian side.
The statement confirmed that entry into and exit from Lebanon remain normal through the Masnaa and Qaa border crossings, which continue to operate without interruption.
Travelers were urged to use these crossings until damage assessments are completed and the necessary measures are taken to reopen the Arida crossing.
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Lebanon’s Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Mitri Warns of Concerning Reports on Movements by Supporters of the Former Syrian Regime
ARK News.. Lebanon’s Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Mitri said that reports circulating in the media about alleged movements by supporters of the former Syrian regime inside Lebanon are a cause for concern.
In a post published on the X platform on Friday, January 2, Mitri called on Lebanese security agencies to verify the accuracy of reports regarding “the movements of supporters of the former Syrian regime in Lebanon” and to take the necessary measures accordingly.
Mitri stressed the need to “prevent any risks of actions that could harm Syria or undermine its security, whether from within Lebanon or launched from Lebanese territory.”
He added that such developments require strengthening cooperation with the Syrian authorities, based on mutual trust and respect for the sovereignty of both countries, in a manner that serves shared interests and preserves security and stability on both sides.
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