The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) will retain three divisions within the Syrian army’s structure under “a preliminary agreement,” a media affiliate of the Northeast Syria (Rojava) administration reported Thursday, noting that negotiations with Damascus are still ongoing.

Iraq’s Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) announced on Wednesday the arrest of six suspected Islamic State (ISIS) members and the destruction of several militant hideouts during coordinated security operations across the country.

Donations collected through Rudaw’s fundraiser to support flood-affected families in the Kurdistan Region’s eastern Sulaimani province reached nearly 7 billion Iraqi dinars - more than $5.3 million - in less than three days.

Education authorities in Cologne, the largest city in Germany’s North Rhine-Westphalia state, have officially recognized academic certificates issued by schools under the Kurdish-led administration in northeast Syria (Rojava), a Kurdish student told Rudaw.

Fans of the Duhok-based Zakho SC on Tuesday won the International Federation of Association Football’s (FIFA) 2025 Fan Award for a teddy bear donation campaign supporting children with cancer.

The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) on Tuesday began talks at the KDP politburo headquarters in Erbil’s Pirmam district on forming the next Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) cabinet and Kurdish representation in Baghdad, Rudaw has learned.

A Greek airline is set to operate its first direct flight from Athens to Baghdad on Tuesday, marking the resumption of European flights to Iraq’s capital after more than three decades, an Iraqi airport official said.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said on Monday that factions affiliated with the Damascus government shelled areas near the strategic Tishreen Dam in eastern Aleppo province.

Iraq’s interior ministry on Monday denied claims that a project to merge the national identification card with the residency card had been awarded to a Syrian company. A lawmaker claimed the company is linked to Syria’s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa.

More than 700 migrants crossed the English Channel to the United Kingdom on Saturday, ending a four-week halt in small boat crossings caused by poor weather conditions, according to figures released by the UK Home Office.

Iraq’s main Sunni Arab political blocs on Sunday called on the Iraqi presidency to expedite government formation by convening the first parliamentary session before December 25, following a meeting to discuss their “vision” for the next government.

Rudaw’s lead anchor Ranj Sangawi on Sunday raised more than 5.88 billion Iraqi dinars - nearly $4.5 million - from just over a dozen Kurdish businessmen in less than two hours to support victims of recent flooding in the Kurdistan Region, with the total expected to grow as the fundraising campaign continues.

Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court on Sunday ratified the final results of the country’s recent parliamentary elections, clearing the way for political blocs to move forward with forming the next government.

Migrants from the Kurdistan Region, reportedly dozens from Sulaimani’s Raparin administration, are pleading for rescue after being detained for nearly a week in Libya’s coastal areas while attempting to reach Europe, their families told Rudaw on Sunday.

Iraq’s main Sunni Arab political blocs are set to meet on Sunday to agree on one or two candidates for parliament speaker, as they seek to unify their position ahead of negotiations to form the next federal government, bloc members said.

A German lawmaker hosted an event at the North Rhine-Westphalia state parliament in Dusseldorf, bringing together Kurds from northeast Syria (Rojava), as well as Alawite, Druze, and Christian Syrians, to discuss the future of their country in the post–Bashar al-Assad era.

The American civilian killed in an ambush on Saturday alongside two US troops in central Syria was a Christian from the Kurdistan Region working with US forces, a US military source in Syria told Rudaw, adding that the attack took place during a meeting with Syrian defense ministry-affiliated forces in Homs province.

Two US soldiers and a civilian were killed in an ambush in Syria’s central Homs province on Saturday, while three other American soldiers and two Syrian security members were wounded, according to the Pentagon and Syrian state media.

Flash floods triggered by days of heavy rainfall have killed at least five people, injured 19 others, and damaged thousands of homes across the Kurdistan Region and Kirkuk, according to a preliminary report by the Joint Crisis Coordination Center (JCC).

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani on Saturday praised Iraq’s progress after years of conflict, marking the conclusion of the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) and stressing that cooperation with the UN will continue.

An explosion at a wedding ceremony in southwest Syria’s Daraa province injured at least 33 people, including children, Syrian state media reported on Friday.

Charities have launched relief efforts in Sulaimani province’s Chamchamal district, where flash floods killed two people and damaged hundreds of homes. Aid groups are distributing essential supplies and helping residents clean and repair houses, officials said.

Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi, a prominent women’s rights advocate and journalist, was arrested on Friday while attending a memorial for a human rights lawyer, according to her supporters.

The United States on Thursday affirmed it is working “aggressively and quickly” with partners in Erbil and Baghdad to deploy defenses that protect the Kurdistan Region’s critical infrastructure following recent attacks.

Iran’s Supreme Court has annulled the death sentence of Kurdish women’s rights activist Wrisha (Varisheh) Moradi, citing legal and investigative “deficiencies,” and has sent the case back for reconsideration, her lawyer said.

Nine schools in Sulaimani province’s Chamchamal district have suffered major damage from recent flash floods, a senior official said Thursday, with the education minister pledging swift renovations.

American Congressman Joe Wilson on Wednesday said Congress is “ready to back up” US President Donald Trump with new provisions in the latest draft of the country’s defense bill, which conditions Washington’s financial aid to Iraq on Baghdad taking steps to reduce the capabilities of “Iran-aligned militias.”

Iraq’s flour reserves are sufficient for more than a year and other food supplies can cover national demand for over five months, the country’s trade minister said.

Two people were killed and four others injured in flash floods that swept through the eastern Sulaimani province of the Kurdistan Region on Tuesday, officials told Rudaw, amid reports that two children are missing. A third person also died in northern Kirkuk province due to the floods.

Major flooding hit Sulaimani province on Tuesday, with western and northern areas affected most severely as heavy rain submerged streets, damaged homes, and stranded vehicles. The province’s traffic directorate urged drivers to avoid several key roads due to “heavy and intense rainfall.”

Members of the US Congress support “federalism” in Syria, an official representing the Kurdish-led administration of northeast Syria (Rojava) in Washington told Rudaw on Monday, as the debate over Syria’s future political system continues.

Iraq’s oil ministry sources told Rudaw Monday that production at the West Qurna-2 oil field, located northwest of the southernmost Basra province, and operated by Russia’s oil giant Lukoil, has been halted due to a leak in an export pipeline.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani is playing “a valuable role” in the ongoing peace process between Ankara and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a leading figure from Turkey’s main pro-Kurdish party spearheading the push confirmed to Rudaw on Monday.

Syrians celebrated the first anniversary of Bashar al-Assad’s fall with mass dawn gatherings in the early hours of Monday. The country’s new president Ahmed al-Sharaa wore a military uniform as he led a congregational prayer at Damascus’s Umayyad Mosque.

Iraq is facing drought during a period that was supposed to be a rainy season, an official from one the country's climate change centers warned on Saturday, adding that “the climate change could be blamed for the weather change in Iraq this year and probably the last few years."

Mazloum Abdi, Commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), on Sunday renewed his call for a “comprehensive dialogue” to establish a “democratic, decentralized” Syria. On the eve of the first anniversary of the fall of the former Baath regime, he also reaffirmed the Kurdish-led forces’ commitment to the March 10 integration agreement with Damascus.

Authorities across the Kurdistan Region have throughout the weekend maintained caution and preparedness as heavy rainfall is expected to hit the area, increasing the risk of flooding in low-lying zones.

Kurdish farmers said Iraqi soldiers entered a village in Kirkuk’s Pirde (Altun Kupri) on Saturday night and prevented them from harvesting their crops as long-running disputes over land ownership in the disputed province continue.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Saturday said non-Syrian members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) should leave “immediately” as the Kurdish-led force continues integration talks with Damascus.

Speaking at a peace forum in Istanbul on Saturday, a senior member of the Kurdish-led administration in northeast Syria (Rojava) said that they want to open dialogue with Turkey as they continue discussions with the interim government in Damascus.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Saturday said Ankara places “great importance” on its relationship with Baghdad and there is a lot of potential for developing ties in various sectors as Iraqi political parties negotiate to form a new government after last month’s election.

Hundreds of people protested in Baghdad on Friday demanding accountability for a retracted decision to freeze the assets of Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthis.

Flood warnings have been issued in the Kurdistan Region as several days of heavy rain are expected, starting Sunday.

Iraq’s presidency said on Friday that it had no role in a decision to classify Yemen’s Ansarullah and Lebanon’s Hezbollah as terrorist organizations and freeze their assets. The decision has sparked protests.

Two private security guards were killed early Friday morning when a speeding vehicle struck them at a residential project in northwestern Erbil, according to their employer.

A year after the ousting of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, the United Nations will continue to push the transitional government to be inclusive of all religious and ethnic minorities, a spokesperson said on Thursday.

Kurdish politicians and representatives will attend a peace conference in Istanbul this weekend for discussions on Turkey’s peace talks with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and other regional developments.

Jordan’s energy and mineral resources ministry said Wednesday that Amman imports an average of 300,000 barrels of Iraqi crude oil per month under a 2023 agreement with Baghdad, describing the supply as a key component of the Hashemite Kingdom’s energy security.

Iraq has become “an example and a model of elections,” the head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) told Rudaw in a one-on-one interview, highlighting the mission’s role in supporting national and regional ballot as it prepares to conclude its work by the end of December.

More than 17,000 families from seven Iraqi provinces have been displaced over the past five years due to climate change and worsening desertification, Rudaw has learned, with most coming from the southern provinces of Dhi Qar and Diwaniyah.

The United States is set to inaugurate the world’s largest consulate compound in Erbil on Wednesday, a move officials describe as indicative of the Kurdistan Region’s strategic importance and deep partnership with Washington.

Water levels in Tehran’s dam reservoirs have dropped to less than half of last year’s levels, a senior official from the Iranian capital’s water authority warned, further noting that autumn rainfall has also plunged to record lows.

The Kurdistan Region will reject the results of Iraq's nationwide census if certain demands are not met by the federal government over the disputed areas, a senior official from the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) planning ministry warned on Tuesday.

Iraq’s ruling Shiite Coordination Framework convened Monday night to narrow its list of 30 potential candidates for prime minister down to ten, senior members of the constellation of Shiite political parties told Rudaw.

A 65-year-old Kurdish man who has lived in the Gaza Strip for nearly three decades is appealing to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) for help relocating to the Kurdistan Region, where most of his family resides. He tells Rudaw he has lost everything in the latest conflict and now lives alone under dire conditions.

Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Monday received US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack in Damascus, the Syrian presidency said in a statement.

A “basic version” of the multi-billion-dollar Development Road Project will be completed by the end of December, a senior Iraqi transport ministry official told Rudaw on Monday, adding that its completion will pave the way for companies interested in participating to engage in tendering.

The Kurdish renowned band Koma Amed held a musical concert in Stuttgart, Germany, on Saturday, with the proceeds from the concert dedicated to aiding the Yazidis in Shingal (Sinjar)l, Nineveh province.

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced late Sunday that it carried out a joint operation with Syria’s interior ministry forces in southern Syria last week, targeting the Islamic State (ISIS).

The Kurdistan Region hosted its first-ever Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Erbil on Sunday, bringing together officials, digital experts and global organizations to discuss the challenges and opportunities of the rapidly evolving digital age.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Sunday received his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan in Tehran, reiterating Iran’s support for the disarmament of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and placing security and counterterrorism cooperation at the center of their talks.

The Independent Human Rights Commission in the Kurdistan Region (IHRCKR) said on Sunday that it is gathering information a deadly shootout earlier in the week on Erbil-Gwer road.

Electricity in the Kurdistan Region has returned to normal, and the 24-hour power supply from the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) flagship Runaki project has also been restored, Erbil’s electricity ministry confirmed on Sunday.

Power supplies in the Kurdistan Region are expected to return to pre-attack levels by Sunday evening, days after a drone strike on the Khor Mor gas field triggered widespread outages, said a senior official from the electricity ministry.

A Yazidi mother and her 11-year-old daughter were reunited with their family in Shingal (Sinjar), northern Iraq on Saturday after spending more than 11 years held captive by Islamic State (ISIS) militants.

Production at Khor Mor gas field will restart within hours, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said on Saturday after reaching an agreement with Dana Gas that will restore power knocked out by a drone attack that halted gas flows and triggered widespread outages.

The drone attack on Khor Mor gas field was launched from an area that is under the control of Iraqi forces, including Turkmen units of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a military expert said on Saturday.

Thousands of businesses across the Kurdistan Region have been crippled by the power outage caused by a drone attack on the Khor Mor gas field this week.

The body of a Kurdish teenager who died when the boat he was in capsized off the shores of Italy 17 months ago was returned home to the Kurdistan Region city of Ranya on Saturday.

Private generators in Sulaimani resumed operating on Saturday after the attack on Khor Mor gas field caused widespread power outages across the Kurdistan Region

Sweden’s migration and foreign trade ministers recently visited Syria to discuss cooperation on deportations, the return of individuals convicted of crimes in Sweden, and reconstruction assistance, according to the Swedish government on Friday.

Syrian villagers described scenes of chaos and destruction after an overnight Israeli raid in Rif Dimashq province.

The family of a young man from Erbil’s northeastern Bradost area said he has joined the Russian army after traveling in search of work.

It is uncertain when power will be restored, the spokesperson for the Kurdistan Region’s MInistry of Electricity told Rudaw on Friday, two days after an attack on the Region’s primary gas field caused widespread outages.

The Iranian consul in Erbil on Friday condemned the recent drone attack on the Kurdistan Region’s strategic Khor Mor gas field, calling it “unacceptable.”

Iraq expects to have the results of its investigation into the attack on Khor Mor gas field within 72 hours, a military spokesperson told Rudaw on Friday as a joint delegation from Baghdad and Erbil visited the site.

The Kurdistan Region’s Deputy Prime Minister, Qubad Talabani, on Thursday condemned the attack on the Khor Mor field in the Region’s eastern Sulaimani province, calling it a “major terrorist crime” by outlaw groups.

Iraq’s electoral body said Wednesday it has forwarded more than 520 appeals related to the country’s mid-November legislative election to the panel responsible for deciding on them, which has already dismissed 36. The body had previously told Rudaw it was reviewing over 870 appeals.

The Kurdish-led administration in northeast Syria (Rojava) on Wednesday condemned escalating violence against civilians and peaceful protesters, urging Damascus to respect the people’s will. The statement follows rare Alawite protests and clashes in Druze-majority areas.

Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Michael Rigas will travel to Erbil and inaugurate the new Consulate General in the Kurdistan Region's capital, the Department of State announced on Tuesday. The visit is part of a Middle East tour beginning on Thursday.

A senior Kurdish politician from northeast Syria's (Rojava) on Tuesday claimed that the recent violence in the country's central province of Homs earlier this week was caused by “systematic sectarian hate speech.”

Senior Kurdish party officials issue contrasting messages as stalled talks among ruling parties continue to block the formation of the next Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), prompting warnings that new alliances may form amid growing concern that the deadlock is weakening the Kurdish position in Baghdad.

Iraq’s transport ministry said on Monday that the country’s ports generated more than one trillion Iraqi dinars (over $800 million) by October due to improved performance and efficiency across maritime facilities.

Sanitation workers across the Kurdistan Region say they are struggling under harsh working conditions and salaries as low as 300,000 Iraqi Dinars (around $213) a month, calling their daily efforts an “uneven war” against mounting waste amid inadequate safety gear and widespread public disregard for proper disposal.

Over 60 people have drowned across the Kurdistan Region since the beginning of this year. Dozens have been rescued during this period, the spokesperson for the Region’s general directorate of civil defense announced on Monday.

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said late Sunday that factions affiliated with Damascus targeted one of their outposts in the eastern province of Deir ez-Zor, adding that the attack "seriously" injured one of their fighters.

The situation at the Khor Mor gas field in Sulaimani province eased early Monday after sirens blared through the night when two drones were detected over the site, sources told Rudaw.

All public employees and salary recipients in the Kurdistan Region will be required to receive their salaries digitally through personal bank accounts under the MyAccount project, the Region’s finance ministry announced Sunday, adding that cash payments will no longer be available starting at the beginning of 2026.

Iraqi security forces announced on Sunday that they carried out a “specialized” operation, conducted “in technical coordination with the French side,” successfully targeting five key Islamic State (ISIS) positions in Kirkuk province.

The decade-long financial crisis in the Kurdistan Region is rippling far beyond its borders, with Kurdish merchants in east China telling Rudaw that economic fluctuations have significantly harmed both their investments and livelihoods.

The main opposition, New Generation Movement (NGM), has expressed its readiness to join the next Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), a senior member of the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) claimed on Sunday. This comes amid the NGM’s failure to maintain its seats in the federal legislature.

Three neighborhoods near Erbil’s historic citadel will be renovated and transformed into museums and tourist sites, the governor said on Saturday.

The first direct flight from Athens will land in Baghdad within weeks after Greece’s civil aviation authority completed an inspection of the Iraqi capital’s airport, the spokesperson for Iraq’s Ministry of Transport said on Saturday.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Saturday said they responded after their positions in eastern Deir ez-Zor came under attack by Damascus-affiliated groups.

Basra police on Saturday said they demolished the home of an alleged drug trafficker after seizing narcotics and other items from the property.

The Islamic Dawa Party on Saturday formally announced that it has nominated its leader Nouri al-Maliki for the post of prime minister, hours after Maliki arrived in Erbil for talks with leaders of the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).

The government has begun canceling the contracts of private electricity generator operators across the Kurdistan Region as millions of people are now receiving 24-hour power from the national grid under the Runaki Project, according to provincial associations of generator owners.

Iran has asked for international assistance to contain a fire that is burning through the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Hyrcanian forests in the north of the country.

The body of a man who went missing a week ago in Sulaimani’s Garmian administration was found in the Sirwan River on Saturday. The cause of death is under investigation.

Kurdish-led Internal Security Forces (Asayish) in northeast Syria (Rojava) reported that two of their positions in eastern Syria came under near-simultaneous attacks by what they described as “terrorist cells” attempting to destabilize the region.

Former premiers Nouri al-Maliki and Mustafa al-Kadhimi are among several names being presented as candidates for Iraq’s next prime minister, according to multiple political sources speaking to Rudaw.

A Kurdish woman from Afrin in northwest Syria says her daughter, named Kurdistan, was detained at a Syrian government checkpoint more than 12 years ago and is still missing.

Authorities in Iran’s western Kurdistan province warned on Friday that water reserves in the dams are low as the country grapples with a severe drought.

Turkey's parliamentary commission will visit jailed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan in his Imrali island prison, the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) confirmed on Friday.

The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) on Thursday issued a stark warning on Iraq’s worsening water crisis, saying Iraq’s “deepening” water shortage is “jeopardizing” the future of millions of children.

The number of appeals challenging the final results of Iraq’s recent parliamentary elections has reached 400, the electoral commission announced Thursday as the deadline for appeals ended.

The US-based HKN Energy announced late Thursday it has reached a final agreement with Iraq on the technical terms for developing the Hamrin oil field in Kirkuk province, describing it as “a major milestone" in advancing the Hamrin project.

Jailed Kurdish politician Selahattin Demirtas could be released in the coming days following a final ruling by Europe’s top human rights court calling for his immediate release, a pro-Kurdish lawmaker at the Turkish parliament said on Tuesday.

The Kurdistan Region is exporting around 200,000 barrels of oil per day to Turkey’s Ceyhan Port, a senior Iraqi oil official told Rudaw on Wednesday, as Erbil and Baghdad continue implementing their recent pipeline export agreement.

Erbil Public Library, known as Zaytun Library, reopened on Monday after a major renovation in a project funded and carried out by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the South Korean development agency announced on Tuesday.

As the exhumation of another mass grave began on Monday in the Shingal (Sinjar) district of Nineveh province, the families of Yazidi genocide victims are concerned about the slow pace of recovering their family members' remains.

The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) warned late Tuesday that interference in Iraq's parliamentary elections and altering the results, especially regarding the quotas, is "unacceptable," calling it a "red line."

Turkish consul general in Erbil said on Tuesday that they are very thankful to Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani for his role in the ongoing talks between Ankara and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

Turkish consul general in Erbil said on Tuesday that they are very thankful to Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani for his role in the ongoing talks between Ankara and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Tuesday reiterated his call to support Zakho SC fans in the International Federation of Association Football’s (FIFA) 2025 Fan Award. The Duhok-based fanbase was recently shortlisted for its teddy bear donation campaign for children with cancer.

A senior United Nations humanitarian official on Monday lamented the severe toll that Sudan’s civil war is taking on children, speaking via video from Darfur as the conflict enters its second year.

The US Treasury Department said Tuesday it has imposed some of its “most impactful” sanctions on Russia’s largest oil companies, Lukoil and Rosneft. The move comes as Iraq struggles to find a “solution” to the fallout from the US sanctions and their impact on Iraq’s oil production.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani on Monday urged Iraqi sports enthusiasts to vote for Zakho SC fans in the International Federation of Association Football’s (FIFA) 2025 Fan Award. The Duhok-based fanbase was shortlisted for its teddy bear donation drive supporting children with cancer.

Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) on Tuesday released the final results of the country’s 2025 legislative election, showing a 48.86 percent voter turnout in Baghdad.

Iraq’s highest judicial authority, the Federal Supreme Court, on Monday clarified that the outgoing parliament and cabinet’s authority ended on election day, November 11, limiting them to handling only non-postponable daily affairs in a caretaker capacity until the new legislature is seated.

A powerful Peshmerga unit affiliated with the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) announced on Monday that it has completed all required procedures to integrate into the relevant ministry amid ongoing efforts to unify all Peshmerga forces.

American energy companies are exploring new opportunities in the Kurdistan Region at a “pivotal moment” for the sector, amid renewed hopes for stability following the reopening of the Iraq–Turkey oil pipeline, the head of the US-Kurdistan Business Council (USKBC) said on Monday.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Sunday urged Kurds worldwide to vote for Zakho SC fans in the International Federation of Association Football’s (FIFA) 2025 Fan Award, after the Duhok-based fanbase was shortlisted for their teddy bear donation drive supporting children with cancer.

Iraq’s electoral commission announced on Sunday it has finished counting votes from last week’s federal parliamentary elections and begun allocating seats, including women’s and minority quota seats, with final results expected within 24 hours.

President Masoud Barzani received on Saturday a young Kurdish man who was attacked by Iraqi security officers for carrying the Kurdistan flag on election day.

At least seven people were killed and six injured in a tribal clash in Iraq’s southeastern Maysan province on Saturday, a provincial official said.

A member of the German parliament, the Bundestag, warned on Friday that deporting Syrians would damage the economy, especially the healthcare sector.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Saturday said they repelled an attack by factions affiliated with Damascus in Raqqa province, leaving three of their fighters injured.

Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) has received 102 complaints about the parliamentary election, but they are not expected to affect the results, its spokesperson told Rudaw on Saturday.

Iran confirmed on Saturday that its forces seized the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker Talara. The ship unexpectedly changed course in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday and headed towards Iranian territorial waters.

More than 2.5 million Iraqis are now covered by the national health insurance system, the health minister said on Friday, according to state media.

Iraq’s Foreign Ministry on Friday thanked the Arab League, the United Nations and the European Union for their assistance and monitoring of Tuesday’s parliamentary elections.

A woman was injured in an explosion in Damascus on Friday, according to Syrian media.

There was an uneasy calm Friday morning in Syria’s southern Suwayda province after intense clashes overnight between state-affiliated forces and Druze fighters, according to reports.

The Syrian presidency on Friday rejected reports that interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa cooperated with the United States-led global coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS) as early as 2016, according to state media.

Syria’s two telecommunication companies have significantly increased their prices, sparking public anger in a country where the United Nations estimates as much as 90 percent of the population is living in poverty.

A Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker en route from the United Arab Emirates to Singapore unexpectedly changed direction and started moving toward Iranian territorial waters, the British maritime security firm Ambrey stated on Friday.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani on Thursday said that talks with Kurdish-led forces are proceeding but integrating the northeast (Rojava) into federal structures will not be rushed.

The US State Department has approved a possible foreign military sale to Iraq of a nationwide communications and repeater system valued at an estimated $100 million, the Pentagon announced on Thursday.

Following the announcement of the preliminary results of the Iraqi parliamentary elections, the significant gap in parliamentary seats between Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani’s Reconstruction and Development Coalition (RDC) and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), which secured the first and second highest number of votes respectively, has raised concern for the KDP, prompting the party to call for amendments to the election law before the next parliamentary vote.

President Masoud Barzani on Wednesday congratulated the people of the Kurdistan Region and Iraq on the “success” of Iraq’s parliamentary elections, as his party surpassed its goal of securing over one million votes and emerged as a leading winner.

The United States Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday received Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Washington DC, discussing Israel-Gaza conflict and Russia’s war on Ukraine.

A Turkish military cargo aircraft crashed near the Azerbaijan-Georgia border, the Turkish defense ministry announced on Tuesday.

Sweden and the Netherlands on Tuesday voiced support for Iraq’s parliamentary elections, emphasizing the need for a peaceful, credible, and inclusive process that upholds democratic values and international standards.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Tuesday said that Iraq’s next government must make a “serious effort” to implement the country’s Constitution, stressing that its neglect has been the source of many ongoing disputes between Baghdad and Erbil.

Two members of Kirkuk’s emergency police were killed in clashes between supporters of two political parties on the eve of Iraq’s parliamentary elections, the head of the provincial council said Tuesday. The Iraqi interior ministry said the incident occurred in front of a parliamentary candidate’s headquarters and that 14 people were arrested in connection with the case.

Iran on Monday rejected what it called foreign interference in Iraq’s upcoming parliamentary elections, scheduled for Tuesday, emphasizing that the vote is an internal matter and that Tehran’s ties with Baghdad will remain strong regardless of the outcome.

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Security forces and displaced persons across Iraq began casting their ballots on Sunday in early voting for the country’s parliamentary elections, two days before the general vote.

Wheat farmers in the Kurdistan Region are still waiting for full payment for their crop from the Iraqi government, an agriculture official said on Saturday.

In a Kurdish neighborhood of Damascus, a 70-year-old father waits every day for the return of his two sons who he has not seen or heard from in 13 years, since they were arrested during the rule of former dictator Bashar al-Assad.

Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid on Saturday called for broad participation in Tuesday’s parliamentary elections, as opinions on the streets remain divided between those determined to vote and others skeptical of any real change.

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said on Saturday they captured a senior leader of the Islamic State (ISIS) in a dawn raid on al-Hol camp in northeast Syria (Rojava).

Thousands of campaign posters adorning Iraqi streets will be recycled after the election into materials raising awareness about the environment, the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) announced on Friday.

One of the 25 Kurds who returned from Libya on Friday described the harrowing ordeal he endured at the hands of smugglers and prison guards in the north African nation where his attempt to reach Europe ended.

President leader Masoud Barzani on Friday said Iraq’s electoral law is “unjust” and pledged to work for reforms, as the Kurdistan Region’s major parties held their final rallies before the official end to the campaign period on Saturday.

Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) chief Mazloum Abdi on Friday received Osman Baydemir, a veteran Kurdish politician from Turkey who traveled to northeast Syria (Rojava) after visiting the Kurdistan Region.

Two Black candidates in Iraq’s parliamentary elections hope to end discrimination against their community that is looking for official recognition as a minority.

Kurdish-led security forces in northeast Syria (Rojava) announced on Friday the arrest of three suspected members of the Islamic State (ISIS) in an early morning raid the day before in eastern Syria.

A group of children dressing in colorful Kurdish clothing attend English language classes in Iran's western Kurdish city of Mahabad, to learn the language and much more.

Political parties across Iraq are fiercely contesting northwestern Nineveh province a week ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections, raising local warnings about increasing outside influence over the province’s administration and resources.

Iraq’s Open Golf Championship has returned for the first time in nearly five decades, teeing off Monday in Erbil with three dozen golfers from across Iraq.

Kirkuk Governor Rebwar Taha said on Monday that the province is “not neglected anymore” and urged an end to ethnic-based politics. He also stressed the need for collective action and cooperation as the multi-ethnic province prepares for Iraq’s federal elections.

The Kurdistan Democratic Party’s (KDP) First and Second Deputy Leaders, Nechirvan and Masrour Barzani, stepped up their campaigning efforts on Tuesday ahead of the upcoming federal legislative elections, underlining the importance of popular support and pledging to build on their party’s record of development as the ballot approaches in just seven days.

Senior Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) figures Nechirvan and Masrour Barzani on Sunday urged voters in the Kurdistan Region’s eastern Sulaimani province to rally behind the party in Iraq’s upcoming legislative vote, highlighting development pledges and the need to boost Kurdish influence in Baghdad. Meanwhile in federal Iraq, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s coalition distanced itself from a candidate over alleged forgery.

The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) is holding key discussions on rebranding, a senior member of the group’s umbrella organization told Rudaw. The move follows the group’s dissolution announcement made in response to a call from its jailed leader, Abdullah Ocalan.

Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) First Deputy Leader Nechirvan Barzani on Sunday urged voters in the Kurdistan Region’s eastern Sulaimani province to rally behind his party in Iraq’s November legislative elections, emphasizing their role in advancing the KDP’s record of development and governance.

Iraq is receiving less than one-third of its water entitlements from neighboring countries, while national water storage levels have dropped below six percent, the water ministry warned on Sunday, as Baghdad continues to press Turkey for increased river releases. The Turkish foreign minister has arrived in the Iraqi capital to sign a water agreement.

President Masoud Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), on Saturday met with religious figures in Duhok province, campaigning for the upcoming federal election with a focus on long-standing grievances over the Kurdistan Region’s relationship with Baghdad.

Nearly half a million people visited Halabja for its annual pomegranate festival that generated 1.7 billion dinars in revenue over the course of three days, officials announced on Saturday.

Iran executed 241 prisoners in October, mainly on drug-related, murder, and political charges, marking a nearly 50 percent increase compared to the same month the year before, a human rights watchdog said on Sunday.

Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leader Bafel Talabani promised to secure a lasting settlement between Erbil and Baghdad if his party gains greater influence in federal politics, speaking at a campaign rally in Erbil on Saturday.

Syria’s transitional government is close to joining the United States-led global coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS), Washington’s special envoy to Syria said on Saturday.

The Iraqi National Security Services (INSS) issued a warning on Saturday of a rise in digital financial fraud using fake accounts and impersonating financial companies utilizing deepfake technology, as the country makes the shift to digital banking.

A senior Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) official denied accusations that the force is besieging Raqqa and detaining residents, saying in a video published on Friday that opposition groups and “foreign agendas” are spreading “completely false” claims as the Kurdish-led force continues operations against remnants of the Islamic State (ISIS) in the former extremist stronghold.

The Iraqi government has launched a new plan to address the housing crisis with new construction outside major urban centres that will relieve urban congestion and improve access to affordable housing, an official from the Ministry of Construction, Housing, Municipalities, and Public Works told state media on Friday.

A new textbook about atrocities committed by Iraq’s Baath regime sparked concern among Kurdish students and officials, who say it downplays crimes committed against Kurds.

Toxic fuel waste and garbage illegally dumped in ditches near eastern Erbil forced residents from their homes on Thursday night, as foul odours made breathing difficult, according to locals. City officials pledged to fill in the ditches.

The family of Abdullah Ocalan, the leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), visited him in his island prison on Friday, his legal team said. This is the latest in a series of meetings Ocalan has had during peace talks between Ankara and the PKK.

Iraq on Tuesday announced it has awarded a $764 million contract to an international consortium, comprising a firm from Luxembourg and Iraq, to develop and operate the country’s largest airport, including the construction of a new terminal designed to handle up to 15 million passengers annually.

Iraq says an “integrated security plan” has been designed to secure the country’s upcoming legislative elections, only 13 days away.

Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) President Masoud Barzani on Tuesday commemorated the victims of the Anfal genocide, calling for justice and national unity as he urged Iraq’s leaders to ensure that the constitution remains the guiding framework between Erbil and Baghdad.

Iraq’s culture minister Ahmed Fakak al-Badrani on Monday announced the seizure of 185 Iraqi-origin artifacts in the United Kingdom, part of ongoing efforts to recover cultural property looted since 2003.

The German federal authorities conduct anti-smuggling operations in coordination with local and international partners, a police official said.

Iraq’s electoral body has barred more than 60 political parties from participating in the upcoming parliamentary elections for failing to meet requirements, an official told Rudaw on Monday.

Over 1,500 schools in the Kurdistan Region will be converted into polling centers for Iraq’s upcoming parliamentary elections and all schools will be closed for a week, Iraq’s electoral commission said.

Iraqi authorities have arrested more than two dozen individuals involved in tribal clashes that shook the country’s southern Dhi Qar province over the weekend, the interior ministry announced late Sunday.

At least one person was killed and and several others injured on Sunday as a result of an explosion at an oil storage depot in Basra province, a local source told Rudaw.

Deepfakes generated with artificial intelligence are spreading rapidly on social media ahead of Iraq’s upcoming elections, the Digital Media Center (DMC) said on Friday.

Israeli forces have advanced into Syrian territory at more than one location, state media and a conflict monitor stated on Saturday.

Kurdish and Turkmen political leaders called for calm after shots were fired during election campaigning in the disputed town of Prde (Altun Kupri), Kirkuk province on Friday night. No casualties were reported and security forces quickly brought the situation under control.

The locally grown produce of the mountainous Amedi district of Duhok province, including its famous apples, were promoted at Berwari Bala’s third annual five-day harvest festival that kicked off on Friday.

The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) both campaigned on messages of doing more for neglected or disputed areas in rallies held in Koya and Sheikhan on Saturday, two and a half weeks ahead of Iraq’s parliamentary election.

The US Department of State on Friday announced that Steven Fagin, a former consul general in Erbil, has been appointed the civilian lead of a new body tasked with supporting the implementation of President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza.

An Italian archaeology team has unearthed the 6,000-year-old site Ali Mawlan mound south of Erbil in partnership with the city’s Directorate of Antiquities and Heritage.

The Iraqi government, partnered with US-based consulting firm Oliver Wyman, has developed a plan to manage and finance the Development Road Project, including both public funding and foreign investment, a senior Iraqi official said on Friday.

Koma Amed will perform in Diyarbakir (Amed in Kurdish), Turkey on Saturday for the first time after 30 years of exile. The music group met their fans at an autograph session at Amed Store, the go-to place for supporters of the city’s football team Amedspor.

More than 800 police officers in Kirkuk are being reassigned, the city’s police department said on Friday. A large majority of those affected are reportedly Kurds.

The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) is hoping for strong support from voters in the hotly contested, ethnically diverse province of Nineveh, the party’s deputy leader said on Friday.

Shakhawan Abdullah, senior Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) official and Deputy Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, has urged Kurdish unity and strong voter turnout ahead of Iraq’s upcoming legislative elections, scheduled for November 11. He warned that divisions among Kurdish parties could weaken the community’s representation in Baghdad.

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Tuesday announced the capture of a “dangerous” Islamic State (ISIS) commander in Syria’s Raqqa province, reportedly responsible for overseeing the distribution of weapons and coordinating activity among the group’s sleeper cells.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Tuesday received a high-level Iraqi security delegation led by Army Chief of Staff Abdul-Amir Yarallah to discuss military coordination, counterterrorism efforts, and post-coalition security arrangements.

Iraqi authorities have identified a suspect in the assassination case of parliamentary candidate Safaa al-Mashhadani, with the suspect’s identity expected to be announced within two days, a member of Baghdad’s provincial council said on Monday.

Iraq’s Ministry of Communications on Sunday announced a nationwide ban on the online game Roblox, citing security, social, and moral concerns following a Supreme Federal Court decision.

United States President Donald Trump on Sunday announced the appointment of Michigan businessman Mark Savaya, of Iraqi descent, as his Special Envoy to the country, describing him as someone with a “deep understanding of the Iraq-U.S. relationship.”

Youth migration and unemployment are among the main issues of concern for voters in the town of Ranya in northern Sulaimani province.

The Kurdistan Justice Group (Komal) on Saturday launched its campaign for Iraq’s parliamentary elections. Party leader Ali Bapir called for unity, tolerance, and Islamic values as the foundations for political cooperation and reform.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani on Saturday repeated Damascus’ rejection of “any form of division or federalism,” but said that northeast Syria (Rojava) has “a historic opportunity” to help build the country’s future.

Kurdish academics and scholars hope to establish a Kurdish university in the German city of Dresden.

The city of Erbil plants around 300 trees daily as part of a broader initiative to expand green spaces, reduce air pollution, and combat the effects of climate change, according to the city’s parks department.

At a rally in Sulaimani on Saturday to launch the party’s electoral campaign and introduce candidates, Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leader Bafel Talabani called for a “stronger Kurdistan in Baghdad.”

Talks with Damascus about integrating the institutions of northeast Syria (Rojava) into state structures are progressing but need to expand beyond the current focus on security, said a member of Rojava’s negotiating team.

The second edition of a motorbike competition was held Friday on the slopes of Mount Korek in Erbil province, bringing together riders and athletes from across the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and Iran for a day of adrenaline and skill.

In Baghdad’s densely populated Sadr City neighbourhood, many people say they will not cast a ballot in the upcoming parliamentary election, following a call from influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr to boycott the vote in protest over government corruption.

Voters are evaluating the track records of the political parties, both on Kurdistan Region issues and in Baghdad, as they decide who to cast a ballot for in Iraq’s upcoming parliamentary election.

The Fifth Slemani International Film Festival concluded on Thursday with nearly 20 awards presented to filmmakers for excellence in acting, directing, and screenwriting, as a juror praised the artistic quality and thematic diversity of the competing films.