The teachers in Sulaimani on Tuesday announced that they were temporarily suspending their two-week-long hunger strike over unpaid salaries after “understanding the situation.”
The Kurdistan Region’s Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani stated on Sunday that the negotiations to form a new Kurdistan Regional Government are progressing well and expressed optimism that the civil servants’ salary crisis would be resolved.
A Kurdish woman was among the victims of a school shooting in Sweden earlier this month that left 11 people dead. Her family described her as a dedicated teacher who took pride in her Kurdish heritage and helped fellow immigrants.
Iraq’s air force has targeted an Islamic State (ISIS) position in Salahaddin province, marking another strike in what seems to be an ongoing campaign by Baghdad against jihadist remnants in the country.
The head of the Kurdish National Council (ENKS/KNC) on Monday visited the Syriac Orthodox Bishop of northeast Syria’s (Rojava) Hasakah province to discuss Syria’s path forward.
Armed factions in Syria are reacting to a recent decision by the new leadership in Damascus to dissolve all armed groups.
The Kurdish language is in decline among the younger generations of Kurds in northeast Turkey, where education is primarily conducted in Turkish.
Syria’s oil ministry stated on Sunday that all oil agreements and contracts signed by the toppled regime of Bashar al-Assad, including those with Iran and Russia, will be reviewed to assess their legal validity. The ministry added that sanctions remain the most significant challenge to the country’s oil sector.
Every day, Mera Warti rides his vending bike up the snowy mountains of Zini Warte to sell comfort foods to tourists who flock there during the winter season.
The Kurdistan Region’s Prime Minister Masrour Barzani has led a delegation to Dubai on Monday to participate in the World Government Summit in Dubai.
Domestic goods in the Kurdistan Region lack investment and face increasing costs, factory owners and experts told Rudaw, urging for better protection for local industries.
Iraq’s interior ministry said on Sunday that the country’s border with Syria is “completely secured” from movements of the Islamic State (ISIS) as Baghdad continues efforts to bolster border security against the backdrop of the events in Syria.
The Sunni Azm Alliance on Sunday called for the inclusion of prisoners held in Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)-administered prisons in Kirkuk under the recently passed general amnesty law.
The leader of the Kurdish Islamist Free Cause Party (Huda Par) on Sunday criticized the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) for its lack of transparency regarding the renewed peace talks between Turkey and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
A natural hot spring in Iran’s West Azerbaijan province is attracting tourists keen to escape cold winter temperatures in its warm water.
The freshly snow-covered landscape and stunning winter scenery of Mount Gara in Duhok province has attracted visitors not only from across the Kurdistan Region, but also from Baghdad.
A Kurdish football club in Austria has one stage left to make it to the highest league in the country, but they say they need a lot of financial support that they do not currently have. Another struggling Kurdish team in Sweden is at risk of bankruptcy if they do not get funding soon.
Dozens of people have been abducted in northwest Syria’s Kurdish enclave Afrin in just over a month, a local watchdog said on Saturday.
Iraqi armed groups are hoping they can ward off an effort by a group of United States members of congress to slap terror labels on ten Iranian-backed factions, three sources told Rudaw English on condition of anonymity on Saturday, with one from the prime minister’s office saying such a designation would cause “chaos.”
Many Kurdish families were among the Syrians who visited the Tadamun area of Damascus after the fall of the regime of Bashar al-Assad with the hope of finding the bones of their loved ones brutally killed by the regime.
One of the 11 Kurdish candidates running in the German parliamentary election highlighted the importance of a strong Kurdish voice in Germany in an election where immigration is a pivotal issue.
The Kurdish administration in northeast Syria (Rojava) on Saturday demanded “formal clarification” from the new Syrian leadership about the entry of Damascus-affiliated security forces into Afrin, after which four Kurds were arrested.
More than 63,000 trees were illegally cut down in the forests of the Kurdistan Region in the past year, an official told Rudaw on Friday.
In the two months since the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime, 270,000 Syrians have returned home, the United Nations refugee agency said on Friday.
Washington’s decision to suspend foreign aid is worsening conditions in camps holding thousands of people with links to the Islamic State (ISIS) in northeast Syria (Rojava), Human Rights Watch said on Friday.
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have no intention of “surrendering their arms to any side,” but they could “play a key role in rebuilding Syria’s future army," the spokesperson for a brigade that falls under the SDF umbrella said in an interview with Rudaw on Thursday.
The United Arab Emirates-based Dana Gas on Friday reported a five percent increase in its revenues for 2024, bringing in $445 million from its operations in the Kurdistan Region and Egypt.
Counterfeit alcohol is being blamed for the deaths of 33 people in Turkey’s capital city. Another 20 people remain hospitalized and under observation, an official said on Friday.
An umbrella group of Kurdish opposition parties on Friday announced its withdrawal from a coalition of Syrian revolutionary forces.
The government in Damascus envisions a “peaceful” path to exerting power over the Kurdish northeast and not a military one, Syria’s defense minister told the Washington Post in an interview published on Thursday.
Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court will sit this week to hear four different complaints against the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) about polygamy rules, traffic fines, and the dissolution of two ministries.
A Kurdish teenager has earned a UEFA B coaching certificate and become the head coach of an under-15 Norwegian women’s football team.
Kurdish composer Karzan Mahmood on Thursday spoke to Rudaw about his nomination for a Hollywood Music in Media Award for his work in an Iranian film, describing it as deeply political and one that reflects the current situation in Iran.
The Norwegian oil firm DNO on Thursday said that 2024 amounted to a year of “stellar production” with an increase in profits from the Kurdistan Region’s oil despite the Iraq-Turkey pipeline remaining closed.
French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday held a phone call with Syria’s interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, to congratulate him on assuming his position and invited him to visit France, according to a statement from the Syrian presidency.
Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani on Wednesday received Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister of Foreign Affairs Mikhail Bogdanov in Baghdad to discuss bilateral relations and regional developments. According to the prime minister’s office, the talks focused on “regional and international developments" and efforts aimed at strengthening stability in the region.
China’s consulate general in Erbil is constructing a new park in the city that is expected to be completed within 90 days, an official said on Wednesday, with the park already 40 percent complete.
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Wednesday received Mohamed al-Hassan, head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), discussing Erbil-Baghdad ties and the mission’s role in the country.
Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leader Bafel Talabani on Tuesday visited the tent of teachers on a hunger strike in Sulaimani protesting unpaid salaries, with the strike entering its eighth day.
Three Sunni-majority provinces have declared Wednesday holiday in protest to the federal supreme court’s ruling to temporarily halt the implementation of three crucial laws, including one which could lead to the release of many Sunnis who have been jailed for terror charges.
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Tuesday received the commander of the US-led global coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS) in Erbil, discussing the groups “activities and dangers to regional peace,” according to the Kurdish presidency.
Iraq's Federal Supreme Court on Tuesday temporarily suspended the implementation of three laws concerning general amnesty, personal status, and the return of land confiscated under the Baath regime to its original Kurdish owners, following recent amendments, as reported by state media.
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Tuesday inaugurated the third and fourth infantry divisions of the Peshmerga forces under the Peshmerga ministry as a part of an ongoing unification process.
The US Embassy in Baghdad on Tuesday denounced the recent drone attack on Sulaimani’s crucial Khor Mor gas field, urging Iraqi authorities to hold perpetrators accountable.
Halabja province on Monday received over 1.5 tons of medical aid from India for victims of chemical attacks.
Oil producers in the Kurdistan Region on Monday welcomed the Iraqi parliament’s approval of a budget amendment that increases compensation for their production costs, a move seen as crucial for restarting oil exports through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline.
A lawmaker from Turkey’s main pro-Kurdish party said on Sunday that the Kurdish issue is not limited to the laying down of arms by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) amid renewed peace process talks between Turkey and the Kurds.
The Kurdish administration in northeast Syria (Rojava) on Sunday condemned the new authority in Damascus for recently holding an “illegal” conference with the participation of “terrorists.”
Authorities in Duhok province have permitted farmers to dig wells and construct artificial ponds to preserve their crops as the Kurdistan Region faces a low rainfall season, an agriculture official said on Sunday.
United States President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he ordered airstrikes on a senior Islamic State (ISIS) militant in Somalia.
Three people were killed and six were injured in a car bombing in northern Syria on Saturday, according to reports.
A young Kurdish-German woman competed on the Voice of Germany, attracting millions of listeners with her unique style and voice.
A Yazidi woman running a thriving online cosmetics business in Germany is encouraging other women to pursue online careers.
Ongoing talks with the federal government over budget amendments and salary payments for the Kurdistan Region’s civil servants are expected to wrap up soon, the Kurdistan Region’s interior ministry said on Saturday.
The joint deployment of Iraqi and Kurdish forces has curtailed Islamic State (ISIS) activities in the Kurdistan Region’s southernmost reaches, once a hotbed of jihadist activity because of a security gap, the local mayor said on Saturday.
An international press freedom watchdog on Friday urged Kurdistan Region authorities to release a journalist who was sentenced to six months imprisonment for defamation.
EBRIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdish music took center stage in Erbil on Thursday at a concert featuring performances from across the Kurdistan Region - Erbil, Sulaimani, Kirkuk, Garmian, Duhok, Halabja, and Hawraman.
The United States military announced early on Friday that its forces killed Muhammad Salah al-Za’bir, a senior operative of an al-Qaeda affiliate, in a precision airstrike in northwest Syria.
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani received a phone call from French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday night. Both expressed support "for the protection of Kurdish rights in Syria," as the Kurdistan Region takes on a greater role in mediating between factions in northeast Syria (Rojava).
Iraq on Thursday repatriated an additional 360 nationals from the notorious al-Hol camp in northeast Syria (Rojava) as part of efforts to return all Iraqis held in the camp, said the Kurdish security forces (Asayish).
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani and his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouly on Thursday attended a forum in Baghdad, while overseeing the signing of 12 new agreements between both countries to strengthen cooperation.
Several Kurds are learning barbering at a small barbershop in Ranya, Sulaimani, in preparation for their migration to Europe.
The Iraqi parliament is set to convene on Sunday to vote on an amendment to the budget law proposed by the federal government which could lead to the resumption of Kurdistan Region’s oil exports.
The unification process of the Kurdistan Region’s Peshmerga forces could be completed before 2026, a ministry official said on Thursday, emphasizing ongoing reforms and international support for the effort.
A camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) north of Erbil city has been emptied as all residents have returned to their hometowns, the migration and displaced ministry said on Thursday.
Iraq remains unable to meet its electricity demand despite increasing power production, officials said at a conference in Baghdad on Wednesday, citing mismanagement, reliance on Iranian gas, and delays in infrastructure development as key challenges.
Iraq has deployed security forces to some of the disputed areas in Diyala province to facilitate the operations of foreign companies working to explore oil and gas.
Five people lost their lives in a refugee camp just outside Damascus on Monday after a failed operation to rescue a drowning person in a metal fuel storage at a gas station.
The new authorities in Syria on Wednesday held an unprecedented conference in Damascus, dissolving all armed groups and the country’s parliament and abolishing the country’s constitution.
Iraq sits atop vast oil reserves but fails to fully exploit them, a former oil minister said Wednesday, criticizing the country’s energy policies and OPEC-imposed restrictions.
The British ambassador to Baghdad said on Wednesday that BP will engage the Kurdistan Region regarding its controversial agreement with the Iraqi government to redevelop oil fields in the disputed province of Kirkuk.
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Wednesday received Daniel Rubinstein, Charge d’Affaires at the US embassy in Baghdad, to discuss bilateral relations and ongoing talks over the formation of a new cabinet in the Region.
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani is set to attend the Munich Security Conference (MSC) in mid-February, the conference’s chairman said, calling the Kurdistan Region’s representatives “important actors” in the region.
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said on Tuesday that at least 11 civilians were killed in two separate attacks in northern Syria in one day. Nearly 30 others were injured in both attacks.
A delegation from the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) on Tuesday visited Syria’s southern Druze-majority Suwayda province and met with Sheikh Hikmat Salman al-Hijri, the Druze spiritual leader, to discuss the country's political future.
The Indian consul general to Erbil on Monday praised his country’s “strengthening” cooperation with the Kurdistan Region and highlighted available scholarship opportunities for the Region’s students.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani on Tuesday outlined Iraq’s plans to enhance its energy sector, boost economic development, and strengthen regional connectivity at the Iraq Development Platform conference in Baghdad.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is in ongoing meetings with Iraq’s finance ministry to discuss budget issues and oil exports, with the two set to meet again on Friday.
The Iraqi ministry of agriculture said on Monday most of Iraq’s central and southern areas are suffering from drought and the whole country has seen less rainfall in January compared to the same period last year.
A drone targeted a car on Monday killing four people and injuring another in Sulaimani province’s Hajiawa district, according to local police.
The European Union is considering easing sanctions on Syria to assist the new government in rebuilding the country following the fall of Bashar al-Assad, a senior EU official stated on Monday.
The Kurdish National Council (ENKS/KNC) is set to meet with Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) chief Mazloum Abdi in the coming days with mediation from the US-led coalition as part of Kurdish unity efforts, its leader said on Monday.
Sulaimani security forces on Monday arrested the suspect who allegedly killed one person and injured three others in the town of Ranya the day prior.
A Kurdish women’s football team in Turkey’s southeastern Hakkari (Colemerg) province has secured a playoff position in the Turkish Football Federation (TFF), state media said on Monday.
A series of earthquakes, the strongest measuring around 5.0 in magnitude, struck Sulaimani province’s Garmiyan early Sunday, with tremors reported near the Iran-Iraq border, according to seismological officials.
Thousands of Arab settlers have left the Kurdish city of Afrin in northern Syria and returned to their hometowns since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, a local council member said on Monday, and over 70 thousand Kurds have returned.
Clashes between Turkey and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) across several villages in northern Duhok province have incurred significant damage with villagers considering evacuation amid “intensifying” bombardments.
A migrant boat carrying Syrian passengers, including Kurds, has gone missing in the Mediterranean Sea after departing from Libya, families and a migrants’ association said on Sunday.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani on Sunday ordered the recruitment of more Christians into Nineveh’s local police force, building on efforts over the past two years to integrate Christian recruits into the security apparatus.
Iraq’s poverty and unemployment rates declined in 2023 due to government measures, the planning ministry spokesperson announced on Sunday. This comes amid the country's preparations to release the detailed results of a recently-conducted census.
Around 150 high-ranking Syrian military officers remain in Iraq and all other soldiers who previously fled to Iraq after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime have been repatriated, the mayor of a border district said Sunday.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani received Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Sunday to discuss bilateral relations and regional developments, including the situation in Syria.
A young baby was killed and two other civilians were injured following heavy shelling near Ain Issa in Syria’s northern Raqqa province late Sunday, Kurdish-led forces said.
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Sunday arrested two suspected Islamic State (ISIS) members in a security operation in northeast Syria’s Qamishli city.
A health sciences and nursing symposium held on Sunday by the Rwanga Foundation and Lebanese French University (LFU) presented more than 30 healthcare solutions, from cancer research to the pressure on the Kurdistan Region’s health industry.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani on Sunday met with Kevin Leahy, commander of the US-led global coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria, and discussed joint cooperation against jihadist remnants in the country.
Goshkhan is a village in the Hawraman region of Kurdistan province, Iran. Every winter, villagers come together to cook a traditional dish called kashkak made from meat, wheat, and kashk (dried yogurt).
Turkey’s foreign ministry on Saturday condemned the deaths of two Iraqi border guards in Duhok province the day before and joined Baghdad in blaming the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
A group of more than 30 European municipal and parliamentary officials, political party and civil society representatives, and journalists visited northeast Syria (Rojava) this weekend.
Turkey’s foreign minister will visit Baghdad on Sunday to meet with his Iraqi counterpart and Iraq’s prime minister, according to the Iraqi deputy foreign minister.
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Saturday gave pro-regime forces active in areas it controls a deadline of February 10 to surrender their weapons.
Next month, Erbil will host a conference about the Kurdish language, named for a well known writer and linguist.
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said on Friday that they arrested two suspected Islamic State (ISIS) leaders in an operation in the east of the country.
A large fire broke out in an industrial building in Istanbul on Friday, state media reported.
Iraq’s interior minister blamed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) “terrorists” for a deadly attack on border guards in Duhok on Friday morning.
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Friday said their forces killed nine militiamen in clashes near Manbij, northern Syria on Thursday.
In a phone call on Thursday with his Turkish counterpart, Iran’s foreign minister raised concerns about recent news of attacks on civilians in Syria.
Two Iraqi border guards were killed and one was injured in northern Duhok province on Friday. A source said they were killed in an altercation with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), but media affiliated with the armed group blamed Turkey.
The European Parliament voted on Thursday to condemn the death penalties for two Kurdish women in Iran, who it says were denied fair trials.
A United Nations official called for all parties in Syria to cooperate without “unhelpful rhetoric” as talks continue between the Kurds in northeast Syria (Rojava) and the new leadership in Damascus.
Around 5,000 Nigerian women are stranded in Iraq, according to the head of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission.
Baghdad and Erbil will form a joint delegation to go to Iran and search for the children who went missing in Halabja after the 1988 chemical attack, a Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) minister said on Thursday.
Turkish Airlines resumed flights to Syria on Thursday after a 13-year suspension, with a flight landing in Damascus from Istanbul airport, state media reported.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani on Thursday invited Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani to Damascus during a meeting on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, the Kurdistan Regional Government announced.
The oldest member of the Kurdistan Parliament said on Wednesday he would not continue as the interim speaker of the legislature after he failed to convene the number of lawmakers needed to hold a session to elect a new leadership for the parliament.
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani met with Adriaan IJsselstein on Wednesday to discuss strengthening bilateral ties and regional developments.
The Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Tuesday held a series of meetings with top officials from different parts of the world on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) carried out nearly 100 operations against the Islamic State (ISIS) in 2024, capturing more than 270 suspects and eliminating several of its high-ranking leaders, said the Kurdish-led force on Tuesday.
A “technical error” at an ammunition cache in northern Baghdad’s Tarmiyah district killed three officers and injured four, Iraq’s Security Media Cell said on Tuesday.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani on Tuesday congratulated US President Donald Trump on his inauguration, expressing Baghdad’s desire to strengthen ties with Washington within the Strategic Framework Agreement and to implement joint agreements between both countries.
Umit Ozdag, leader of Turkey's far-right Victory Party (Zafer), was detained on Monday as part of an investigation into allegations of "insulting" Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, state media reported.
The Kurdish-led administration in northeast Syria (Rojava) warned on Monday of the growing possibility of the crucial Tishreen Dam collapsing, bringing about an “environmental disaster” that would affect hundreds of thousands and cut electricity access amid militant attacks.
An official from Turkey’s opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has sparked outrage by posting a photo of legendary Kurdish leader Sheikh Said hanging as a car air freshener in his office, mocking his execution.
The body of a Kurdish National Council (ENKS/KNC) member was found dead on Monday in northeast Syria’s (Rojava) Hasaka province, a party representative said.
A delegation from Kurdistan Region’s finance ministry arrived in Baghdad on Sunday to discuss amendments to Iraq’s previously-approved 2025 budget law and address obstacles to the payment of the salaries of its civil servants.
Thousands of tourists have flocked to Mount Hasan Bag in Erbil province, drawn by its scenic winter landscape despite snowfall levels being lower than in previous years.
A top official from Germany’s foreign affairs ministry said on Sunday that he and Mazloum Abdi, chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), met to discuss “urgent issues” that need to be resolved in new Syria.
The Israeli military on Sunday announced the return of three hostages to its forces in Gaza, the first batch since the ceasefire with Hamas took shape.
Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani met with leaders of Jordan and the United Arab Emirates on Sunday to discuss bilateral ties and regional developments, including the situation in Syria.
Israel’s foreign minister on Saturday slammed the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) chief prosecutor Karim Khan for visiting Syria and meeting with de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa but refusing to visit Israel and issuing arrest warrants against its top officials.
Renowned Kurdish comedian Juma Khalil, famously known as Bave Teyar, died on Sunday of injuries he sustained during an airstrike on northern Syria’s Tishreen Dam the day before, Kurdish media reported.
At least 54 illegal refineries have been shut down in Erbil province due to environmental concerns, an official said on Sunday, as part of a recent Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) campaign to combat air pollution.
Nearly daily clashes in northern Duhok province have left local populations afraid to leave their villages, even to tend their livestock, a local chieftain said on Saturday.
The head of the New Generation Movement on Saturday said that without real power, they will not accept an offer to join the government and will stay in opposition.
Hundreds of factories in the Kurdistan Region have closed in recent years because of regulatory differences between Erbil and Baghdad, throwing thousands of people out of work. More jobs are at risk if the issue is not resolved, a member of the Iraqi parliament told Rudaw on Saturday.
Thirteen private generator owners in Erbil are being investigated as part of government efforts to combat high levels of air pollution, a member of the private generator council told Rudaw on Saturday.
Four civilians have been killed and more were injured in drone strikes on Tishreen Dam in northern Syria on Saturday, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) stated. This is the third attack on civilians at the site this month amid fears the dam could collapse.
The number of press freedom violations committed in the Kurdistan Region in 2024 has declined from the previous year, according to a report released on Saturday by a Kurdish media watchdog, which warned that journalists still face serious problems, especially in accessing information.
The Iraqi government brought back 12 people from the Kurdistan Region who spent nearly two months in Libya trying to reach Europe, a diplomat told Rudaw.
Environmentalists in western Iran on Friday said people are deliberately setting forests on fire in order to create coal, and accused the government of “negligence” for allowing this to continue.
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Friday announced they launched an operation against Turkish-backed forces while fending off attacks on multiple fronts.
Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) chief Mazloum Abdi on Friday indicated that his historic meeting with Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Masoud Barzani went very well and said they discussed Kurdish unity in Syria.
Turkey’s main pro-Kurdish party said on Friday that its meetings with politicians from across the spectrum about Kurdish-Turkish peace talks were generally positive, despite some concerns, and they are looking forward to a second meeting with jailed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan to ensure “the process reaches peace.”
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani on Thursday oversaw the handover of archival documents on Baathist era crimes to an Iraqi documentation center during his visit to London, his office said.
The commander of United States forces in the Middle East visited northeast Syria on Thursday to assess the situation on the ground amid concerns about a possible Islamic State (ISIS) resurgence and the future of thousands of the group’s fighters detained by Kurdish-led forces.
The footage of the historic meeting between the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Masoud Barzani and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) chief Mazloun Abdi in Erbil dominated social media late Thursday, with veteran Kurdish politicians congratulating Kurds for the development.
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Thursday reported that an airstrike targeted a convoy at the key Tishreen Dam protesting in support of the Kurdish-led force and against attacks in the area, causing injuries.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) commander General Michael “Erik” Kurilla visited Iraq and the Kurdistan Region on Wednesday and urged Iraqi authorities to repatriate their nationals from Kurdish-held camps and prisons housing Islamic State (ISIS) suspects in northeast Syria (Rojava).
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday accused Israel of "aggressive actions" in Syria, warning they could lead to "unfavorable outcomes for everyone." The Israeli foreign ministry reacted by calling Turkey "the aggressive imperialist actor" in the region.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday accused Israel of "aggressive actions" in Syria, warning they could lead to "unfavorable outcomes for everyone." The Israeli foreign ministry reacted by calling Turkey "the aggressive imperialist actor" in the region.
A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was announced on Wednesday after arduous negotiations involving Egypt, Qatar, and the United States. This development comes after more than 15 months of a devastating conflict between both sides.
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani met with a US delegation led by deputy assistant secretary of state for Iraq and Iran, on Wednesday to discuss Erbil-Baghdad tensions and ongoing efforts to form a new Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) cabinet.
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Wednesday said civilians were killed and injured after a convoy heading to the Tishreen Dam to join ongoing demonstrations against attacks on the area was targeted by an airstrike.
The Kurdistan Region’s finance ministry on Wednesday announced a strategic deal between the MyAccount program and banking giant Visa to increase awareness of digital payment methods and banking services in the Region.
An Iraqi delegation on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with British energy giant BP to redevelop four oilfields in Kirkuk province.
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Tuesday denied claims by Turkish media that they had received over 1,500 drones from Iran, saying their drones are locally made.
Many Italians wish for greater autonomy for the Kurds in Syria as it could lead to greater stability in the Middle East, said a top Italian official earlier this week.
Stray dogs are being killed on a large scale in Kirkuk in a campaign initiated by the mayor after four stray dogs killed a child
Sulaimani’s cancer registration department on Tuesday released the statistics for 2024 which show that over 3,000 new patients have been diagnosed with cancer, with 201 of them being children.
British energy giant, British Petroleum (BP), will start working on the development of Kirkuk province’s oil and gas fields, the governor said on Tuesday.
Kurdish farmers in the Sargaran district have not been able to plow their farms since November, prohibited by the Iraqi army, and now the season for sowing their seed is coming to an end, according to the head of the farmers' defense committee in the Sargaran.
The United States on Tuesday called on Iran to overturn the death sentence of Kurdish woman Pakhshan Azizi and to stop targeting Kurds after she was sentenced for membership in a “terrorist group.”
A delegation from the Kurdistan Region on Tuesday held a broad meeting with a joint US military and diplomatic delegation to discuss the reform and reorganization of the Peshmerga forces.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani on Tuesday met King Charles III as part of an official trip to London, discussing a host of topics including bilateral ties and economic prospects.
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Tuesday said they had lost contact with three fighters after clashes with Syrian National Army (SNA) militants in northern Syria.
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) must be dissolved “without any conditions,” Turkey’s Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli said on Tuesday, with the country’s main pro-Kurdish party set for an expected second meeting with the jailed PKK leader.
A Syrian delegation is set to visit neighboring Turkey on Wednesday in its first official visit to the country since Islamist-led rebels toppled Bashar al-Assad’s regime, the foreign minister announced.
Protests erupted in Turkey's southeastern Aydin province after police clashed with demonstrators condemning the detention of pro-Kurdish municipal council members, a pro-Kurdish media outlet reported on Monday.
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Monday continued his meetings with top Iraqi officials and politicians on the latest developments in the region and the cooperation between the federal and regional governments.
The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) on Monday welcomed Iraq’s decision to extend the term of the electoral commission for another two years.
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani’s latest visit to Baghdad was conducted at a perfect time and he is seen as a key actor in solving the disputes between Baghdad and Erbil and improving regional security in the Middle East, said an expert on Monday.
Iran plans to open branches of its top-ranking universities in Iraq if administrative obstacles are resolved, Iranian higher education minister said on Monday.
Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani on Monday departed Baghdad, leading a delegation to the United Kingdom following an invitation by his British counterpart.
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Monday held a series of meetings with Iraq’s top leaders in Baghdad to discuss a range of issues, including unresolved issues between the federal and regional governments.
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) on Sunday accused the federal government of violating constitutional provisions by attempting to unilaterally sell oil and gas resources in the disputed territories.
A rooster beauty contest was held in Sulaimani’s Baziyan district on Friday.
Iraq’s ruling State Administration Coalition held a regular meeting in Baghdad on Sunday, attended by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, where they discussed key issues, including the unresolved salary payments to Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) civil servants.
Iraq’s finance ministry on Sunday reaffirmed its commitment to paying the Kurdistan Region’s budget, despite claims that Erbil has failed to transfer non-oil revenues. The statement follows criticism from Kurdish officials accusing Baghdad of unfairness and belittling the region’s issue solely on salary payments while broader disputes remain unresolved.
Overnight snowfall has disrupted the movement of trucks at the Kele border crossing between Iran and the Kurdistan Region, an official told Rudaw on Sunday.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani in a phone call on Sunday congratulated Joseph Aoun on his recent election as the country’s president and reiterated Baghdad’s support for Beirut, according to Sudani’s office.
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani arrived in Baghdad on Sunday to attend a meeting of the ruling State Administration Coalition alongside top Iraqi politicians.
The Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masour Barzani warned on Sunday that the authorities will take legal action against refineries, factories and individuals that violate regulations and cause harm to the environment.
Approximately 200 acres of land have been allocated to planting hundreds of thousands of olive trees in Duhok province’s Akre town, said the mayor on Sunday.
In an extraordinary meeting of the Kurdistan Region cabinet also attended by Kurdish politicians from the federal government on Saturday, the government said it would demand from Baghdad full payment of civil servant salaries for the year 2025, after delays and missed payments last year.
A motorcycle drag race was hosted at Sulaimani’s Arbat Airport on Friday. The competition featured various motorcycles, including dirt bikes and sports bikes.
A multi-vehicle accident on the Sulaimani-Penjwen road this weekend resulted in one death, several trucks catching fire, and nearly 12 cars damaged.
Ahmet Turk, a veteran Kurdish politician, called for a renewal of the “brotherhood” between Kurds and Turks, echoing the sentiments of jailed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan amid new hopes for peace in Turkey.
The administration of north and east Syria (Rojava) on Saturday appealed to the international community to halt Turkey-backed militant attacks on Tishreen Dam, warning the structure could collapse.
Jailed Kurdish politician Selahattin Demirtas has expressed support for renewed peace talks in Turkey, in a statement published on social media on Saturday.
A child lost his life after a pack of stray dogs attacked him in Kirkuk on Saturday. He was mauled after leaving school, according to an official.
Iraq said on Friday that it has extended its concrete wall along the Syrian border amid political and security uncertainty in the neighboring country.
Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid on Friday congratulated Lebanon’s new president on his election following years of power vacuum and expressed Baghdad’s “unwavering” support for Beirut.
Iraqi F-16 warplanes targeted an Islamic State (ISIS) hideout in Kirkuk province on Friday, killing six militants including a senior leader, the Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) announced.
A glimpse of a familiar sweater lying crumpled and dirtied in a mass grave has finally ended one man’s nearly four-decade search for his family.
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Friday warned that Ankara is prepared to eliminate what it perceives as security threats in Syria, adding that with the fall of the old regime across the border, it is the "end of the road" for armed Kurdish groups.
Turkish security forces have taken over a municipal council building in the southern province of Mersin and detained the co-mayors and four council members, the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) announced on Friday.
More than 4,000 Kurdish families have returned to Afrin in recent weeks, with some armed groups demanding payment for entry, the head of the local council for the Kurdish National Council (ENKS/KNC) said Thursday.
Delegations from the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) on Thursday continued government formation talks in Erbil for the third consecutive day, discussing the division of leadership roles in the next cabinet.
Sulaimani-based counter-terrorism forces on Wednesday announced the arrest of several Islamic State (ISIS) suspects in the Sharazur district during an intelligence-led operation.
Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council on Wednesday extended the term of the country’s Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) for two years.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani on Wednesday headed to Tehran to meet Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian for talks on bilateral issues and regional developments, particularly the situation in Syria a month after an Islamist-led takeover.
A coalition of US civil society organizations on Wednesday called on US President Joe Biden’s administration to stop the Syrian National Army’s (SNA) aggression against Syrian Kurds and to sanction Turkey if attacks continue.
Syrian Kurds should join forces and head to Damascus to present their demands as one team, suggested a veteran Kurdish politician on Wednesday as the country navigates a transitional phase.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) will deliver a “firm and decisive” response to any threats on its border areas, its commander said on Wednesday near the restive border with Iraq.
The United Nations’s human rights body on Tuesday slammed Iran for the rise in the number of executions in the country last year, which reached over 900.
The leader of the Kurdish Islamist Free Cause Party (Huda Par) on Tuesday said that Abdullah Ocalan, jailed leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), may call on the group to lay down arms in return for his freedom amid a fresh initiative seeking a peace process.
Kurdistan Region’s farmers sold over a million tons of locally produced fruits and vegetables to central and southern Iraq in 2024, according to official data.
Kurdistan Region Prime Minister met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Tuesday, discussing regional developments and the resumption of the Region’s oil exports to Turkey.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani on Tuesday met UAE-based Crescent Petroleum representatives to expedite investments in a Diyala province oil field and signed a contract to increase gas production to supply power stations.
Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani arrived in Ankara to meet top officials including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday.
Armenian Christians have historically been part of the Iraqi community but their numbers are drastically decreasing as most have left the country due to instability and violence.
Dozens of families from Eastern Ghouta outside of Damascus returned on Sunday for the first time since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime last month, after years of forced displacement during the country’s civil war.
The US has expanded authorizations for humanitarian transactions and activities in Syria following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime to increase aid in the war-torn country while maintaining sanctions, the US Department announced on Monday.
Turkey has extended its flight ban on Sulaimani International Airport for the fourth time since 2023, the director of the airport said on Monday.
A man opened fire at police officers on Monday while his father was being arrested in Erbil province’s Pirmam district, lightly wounding two officers, according to the police.
A landmine explosion in Duhok’s Amedi district killed a Peshmerga fighter on Monday, said the Peshmerga ministry.
The developments in Syria after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime will be on Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani’s agenda in his visit to Tehran, Iran’s foreign ministry said on Monday.
The Druze reject Islamic rule and prefer a decentralized government in Syria, a commander from the minority group said on Sunday.
Traders imported more than 170,000 vehicles to the Kurdistan Region in 2024, with some of them being transported to areas under the federal government, an official from the Kurdish trade ministry revealed on Sunday.
Three people died and several others were injured in a collision between a taxi and a tractor in Halabja on Sunday.
A Kurdish National Council (ENKS/KNC) representative on Sunday said that the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) must be banned from Syria to safeguard the rights of Kurds.
A shooting at al-Esraa University in Baghdad on Sunday left six injured, including a doctor who is in critical condition, a student told Rudaw.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani will visit Tehran on Wednesday to discuss regional developments and bilateral ties, his office said on Sunday.
A Yazidi woman kidnapped by the Islamic State (ISIS) in 2014 reunited with her family in Shingal’s Kocho village on Sunday after being rescued from Syria’s northwestern Idlib province last month.
Iraq and Kurdish security forces have detained four suspected Islamic State (ISIS) members, according to a government statement issued on Saturday.
All of the Kurdistan Region Government’s (KRG) civil servants in Erbil are registered with the My Account program and most will be receiving their salaries digitally this month, government officials said on Saturday.
The Iraqi government has named April 2 as a day to commemorate Faili Kurds killed by the former regime and the prime minister has directed all government institutions to observe a moment of silence on that day, a government advisor told Rudaw on Saturday.
Christian political parties want Syria to be a secular state, a politician told Rudaw on Saturday.
A Syrian singer famed for his revolutionary songs is hopeful there will be newfound freedom of expression after decades of oppression under Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
The prime minister of the Kurdistan Region discussed the resumption of oil exports in a phone call with a United States energy official, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) announced on Friday.
A coalition of Kurdish opposition parties is considering opening an office in Damascus as it hopes to gain some influence in the new Syria, a party official told Rudaw on Thursday.
The Kurdish administration in northeast Syria condemned a New Year terror attack in New Orleans by a United States army veteran who American officials said had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (ISIS).
Residents of a Kurdish region in Iran’s West Azerbaijan province have gifted a new home to the family of a Kolbar whose donated organs saved the lives of three people. This act of generosity came more than a year after the Kolbar's tragic accident, which left him in a coma before his passing.
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) on Thursday blamed the federal government for the unpaid salaries of its civil servants, accusing Baghdad of violating the constitution.
Iraqi security forces arrested five suspected kidnappers in separate operations in Babil and Maysan provinces, the interior ministry announced on Wednesday.
At least 21,000 people lost their lives in Syria in 2024, with more than 18,000 being civilians, including children and women, a war monitor reported on Wednesday, and 3,000 non-civilians were killed.
Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) forces were denied access to Syria’s southern Suwayda province after local Druze militias demanded they turn back, local media reported on Wednesday.
Kurdistan Region’s civil defense authorities recorded seven fire incidents between New Year's Eve and Wednesday midday, including a deadly one.
The Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani is set to visit Tehran next week to discuss regional developments and bilateral ties, Iran’s foreign ministry announced on Tuesday.
The Kurdish issue in Turkey can be obtained peacefully through the parliament, a Kurdish lawmaker said on Tuesday.
Kurdistan Region’s top officials and politicians on Tuesday hoped for the swift formation of Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) new cabinet in their New Year messages.
The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) are set to meet next week for further talks on cabinet formation and the distribution of positions, the PUK spokesperson said on Tuesday.
The Pentagon emphasized on Monday that the ceasefire the US recently brokered between its NATO ally Turkey and Kurdish partners in northern Syria is “still holding” despite reported clashes in the region.
Ukraine’s foreign and agriculture ministers on Monday met with their Syrian counterparts and the transitional government’s de facto leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, to discuss extending Ukraine’s support for Syria and enhancing agricultural and food cooperation.
Iranian state media on Monday confirmed the arrest of Italian journalist Cecilia Sala for allegedly “violating the laws of the Islamic republic.”
The Syrian transitional government is holding discussions with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Kurdish National Council (ENKS/KNC) to include Kurdish fronts in a planned national Syrian dialogue conference, state media reported on Monday.
The interior ministry of Syria’s transitional government has issued a decree granting military ranks to several foreign nationals, a move signed by de facto leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, according to a war monitor and an expert.
An Iranian border official on Monday said over one million tons of goods were exported in 2024 through the Tamarchin-Haji Omaran border which crosses into the Kurdistan Region’s Erbil province, marking a 120% increase compared to last year.
Turkey’s energy and natural resources minister on Monday said that the government plans to increase the daily production of oil in Gabar field in the Kurdish province of Sirnak to 100,000 barrels.
Kurdish security forces in Sulaimani (Asayish) revealed their yearly figures for 2024 and said they have arrested over 600 terrorism suspects and seized over three tons of narcotics.
The remains of 50 Kurdish women and children massacred by the former Iraqi regime decades ago have been exhumed in a recently discovered mass grave in Iraq’s southern province of Muthanna, revealed a federal official on Sunday.
Flights between Iraq and Lebanon are set to restart on Monday, an Iraqi official said on Sunday. They were halted earlier this month due to security concerns in the region.
The main crossing between Iraq and Syria border, which was shut earlier this month following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, remains closed, Iraqi border guards spokesperson said on Sunday.
Iraq’s migration and displaced ministry on Sunday said the number of IDPs in the Kurdistan Region returning to their places of origin has decreased due to the winter season and their children being in school.
A Turkish court sentenced four people to jail for the murder of an eight-year-old girl from Diyarbakir, three of them are family members who were given life imprisonment, state media reported on Saturday.
Refugees from northeast Syria (Rojava) living in the Kurdistan Region are reluctant to return home after the collapse of the regime. They are worried about how Kurds will be treated and some expressed skepticism about the intentions of the new rulers who have an Islamist background.
In a phone call on Saturday, Turkey’s foreign minister reiterated to his American counterpart Ankara’s opposition to Kurdish forces in northern Syria.
Amending the leadership rules was a focus for the Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) during its party congress held this weekend, according to Sherko Jawdat, a leadership council member of the party.
Israel’s foreign minister expressed “moral and diplomatic” support for Kurds in Syria and urged the international community to do the same, in an interview published on Saturday.
This year, Iraq seized over six tons of drugs and arrested more than 14,000 suspects on drug-related charges, the counter-narcotics directorate announced on Saturday. Drug smuggling into the country, however, has dramatically dropped with the fall of the regime in neighbouring Syria and a tightening of the border.
Turkey is considering a new oil pipeline to Syria that will also link to the Turkey-Iraq pipeline, the minister of energy and natural resources said on Friday.
Ukraine has sent 500 tonnes of flour to Syria as a humanitarian gesture following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime, the country's president announced on social media on Friday.
Employees at a hospital in Kirkuk are caring for two children who were abandoned at the health care facility.
Iraqi security forces on Friday announced they arrested a suspected dealer in Baghdad and seized 16 kilograms of marijuana.
Child traffickers suspected of selling newborn babies have been arrested in two separate operations in the north and the south of the country, the Iraqi Interior Ministry announced on Friday.
Islamic State (ISIS) cells targeted the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northeast Syria on Thursday, killing two and exploiting the security vacuum caused by the collapse of the Assad regime.
A Dutch YouTuber with over two million subscribers, travelling around the world on her motorcycle, had her motor vehicle stolen in Erbil mid November but found it a few hours later with the help of locals and a tracking device installed on her bike. The police announced his arrest on Thursday.
An Iraqi delegation held talks with Syria’s new government to address border security and regional developments, Iraqi government spokesperson Basem al-Awadi announced on Thursday.
The Kurdish-led administration in northeast Syria (Rojava) on Thursday called for protecting Syria’s diversity and plurality, a day after violent protests across several provinces over an alleged attack on an Alawite shrine in Aleppo province.
Iraqi warplanes on Wednesday targeted a suspected Islamic State (ISIS) hideout in Salahaddin province, killing several members of the group, the country’s security forces announced.
At least 17 people were killed on Wednesday in Syria’s Tartous during clashes that erupted when security forces attempted to arrest an officer linked to the ousted President Bashar al-Assad, and armed men intercepted them.
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Wednesday expressed his condolences for the death of dozens of people killed after an Azerbaijani aircraft crashed in Kazakhstan.
Iraqi Interior Minister Abdul-Amir al-Shammari arrived in Ankara on Wednesday, heading a high-level delegation to discuss enhancing security ties and information sharing with Turkish officials.
The Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) announced that the party’s congress will be held in the upcoming days, a party official told Rudaw on Wednesday.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday announced that his country will open its Aleppo consulate soon, less than two weeks after reopening its embassy in capital Damascus after a decade long hiatus.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Turkish counterpart Yasar Guler on Tuesday discussed developments in Syria and regional security and stability during a phone call, the Pentagon announced.
An American analyst on Tuesday stressed the importance of a ceasefire in northern Syria, citing US interests in ensuring that the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) can focus on guarding prisons holding Islamic State (ISIS) members and preventing the extremist group from regaining strength.
Kurdistan Region's political leaders on Tuesday shared their Merry Christmas messages, emphasizing the region's spirit of coexistence.
A Kurd recently freed from the notorious Sednaya prison in the outskirts of Damascus sustained a fractured skull and significant memory loss during his time behind bars as a result of torture by Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
At least 12 people were killed on Tuesday after a blast at an explosives factory in Turkey’s northwestern Balikesir province, state media reported.
Suspected Islamic State (ISIS) gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire on a military vehicle belonging to Kurdish security forces (Asayish) in northeast Syria, injuring two members, a war monitor reported on Monday.
Sulaimani police said Monday that they have arrested a man and a woman, accused of torturing a girl, who is their relative, to death.
Scammers in the Kurdistan Region face light sentencing while their victims have difficulties receiving their rights back, making it a daily occurrence, according to lawyers.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday said that his country will “remove” the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and its alleged Syria offshoots from the region, vowing to continue his country’s operations against the armed group.
Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) General Commander Mazloum Abdi on Monday met with a delegation from the Kurdish National Council (ENKS/KNC), in the presence of the global coalition, to discuss Kurdish unity going forward in Syria following the collapse of the Baathist regime.
The United Nations on Monday called for action in Syria, stating that the country is facing “a triple-layered crisis,” following the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime, amid an influx of Syrians returning to their homes, and internal displacement.
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Monday launched a counterattack near the strategic Tishreen Dam on the Euphrates River, the spokesperson of the Kurdish-led forces announced, with clashes still ongoing.
Masoud Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), came to the assistance of a family from the Kurdish city of Kobane in northern Syria (Rojava) and gave the family of a man who tragically died from gas suffocation residency in the Kurdistan Region.
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Monday received Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans in Erbil to discuss Amsterdam’s contribution in the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS) and bilateral ties.
The Peshmerga Ministry announced on Sunday plans to establish two operations command centers comprising 11 military divisions as a part of ongoing efforts to reform and unify the Kurdistan Region’s forces.
The Kurdish National Council (ENKS/KNC) is set to meet with Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) General Commander Mazloum Abdi under American and French supervision, amid calls for Kurdish unity and dialogue in Syria after the collapse of the Baathist regime, the council’s spokesperson said on Sunday.
German diplomats on Sunday warned against the escalating tensions between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian National Army (SNA) militias, during phone calls with General Commander Mazloum Abdi, amid ongoing attacks that have disrupted Kurdish counterterrorism operations.
A bitumen factory in Erbil province’s Soran administration was shut down on Sunday due to non-compliance with health and environmental standards, an official told Rudaw.
An Iraqi court has reportedly rejected an appeal from the federal oil ministry seeking to invalidate several oil contracts between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and international oil companies (IOCs).
After a day of intense clashes near Tishreen Dam on the Euphrates River, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said on Saturday that it lost five fighters while thwarting an attack by Syrian National Army (SNA) militia groups and claimed to have killed 52 from their enemy’s ranks.
Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto arrived in Erbil on Saturday evening and was met at the airport by Peshmerga Minister Shoresh Ismail.
Tehran’s foreign ministry accused the United States and Israel of having a master plan for the Middle East after a Washington official said there will be no place for Iran in the new Syria.
Syria’s transitional government on Saturday named Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani as its new foreign minister, less than two weeks after toppling the Bashar al-Assad regime.
The global coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS) has provided humanitarian aid for people displaced by recent fighting in northern Syria, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced on Friday.
United States government officials met with Syria’s new rulers in Damascus on Friday.
Turkey’s foreign minister will visit Syria soon for discussions on rebuilding the country after the collapse of the Assad regime, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told journalists on Friday on his return flight from Egypt.
Erbil’s historic city center will be closed to motor vehicle traffic for seven hours on Fridays to ease congestion and accommodate tourists, the traffic directorate announced.
US troops will remain in Syria to prevent the Islamic State (ISIS) from resurging and Washington’s focus will be on deconfliction in the country, US deputy permanent representative to the UN said on Tuesday.
The Barzani Charity Foundation (BCF) on Thursday said that nearly 3,000 Kurdish families have returned to Afrin while over a thousand settler families have left the city following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime earlier this month.
The president of a Baghdad court on Thursday said that they uncovered a group of security officers who embezzled 16 billion dinars (about $10 million) while stressing the urgency of Iraq’s fight against corruption, state media reported.
The Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) must avoid the Taliban approach in Afghanistan by presenting a moderate face only for its “true colors” to come out after strengthening its grip on the country, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday.
A spokesperson for Syria’s transitional government said on Wednesday that no authority other than the central government in Damascus will be recognized while affirming that Kurds are equal partners in rebuilding the nation.
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said on Wednesday that the Syrian National Army (SNA), with Turkish air support, has continued attacks on the symbolic Kurdish city of Kobane in northern Syria and posed a threat to the crucial Tishreen Dam despite the US-brokered ceasefire which has been extended through the end of the week.
The Kurdish-led administration in northeast Syria (Rojava) on Wednesday said it removed customs and taxes with other parts of Syria in a bid to “preserve the unity of Syrian lands” following the collapse of the Baathist regime.
The Kurdistan Region’s tourism board is projecting that over 300,000 tourists will visit the Region for the New Year celebrations.
The United States wants to halt conflict across Syria and does not want new clashes to erupt, a Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) representative in Washington said on Tuesday, as the possibility of a Turkish attack on Syrian Kurds looms.
United Nations Special Envoy to Syria Geir Pedersen said on Tuesday that while much of Syria appears stable following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime, stability remains “fragile,” with ongoing violence and displacement in the northeast (Rojava) threatening the country's peace.
Kurdish leaders on Tuesday marked the Kurdistan Flag Day by honoring the sacrifices made in the 12/17/2024 10:10 PMpast while calling for united efforts to build a prosperous future for the Kurdish people.
The United States on Monday backed Turkey in going after the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) while reaffirming support for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS).
Iraq’s interior ministry on Monday denied that Maher al-Assad, the brother of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, is in the country.
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said on Monday that United States-led mediation efforts to reach a “permanent truce” with Turkey over Manbij city have fallen off, accusing the latter of “evasion to accept key points”.
The United States army announced on Monday that it killed 12 suspected Islamic State (ISIS) militants in airstrikes it carried out in Syria as a part of its efforts to prevent the group from exploiting security vacuums in the country.
Syrian Kurds are the number one victims of Bashar al-Assad’s downfall as they have lost control of many places, said a Russian expert on Monday.
The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) has no presence in northeast Syria (Rojava), a top PKK commander said on Monday amid calls for the group's alleged fighters to leave the country.
United States President-elect Donald Trump on Monday described the recent rebellion in Syria that culminated with the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad, as an “unfriendly takeover” by Turkey.
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) will start paying the October salaries of its civil servants on Tuesday as its financial disputes with the federal government remain unsolved.
The Kurdish administration in northeast Syria (Rojava) on Monday called for dialogue “to build a new Syria” following the collapse of the Baathist regime, and to have a “unified stance” in the country’s transitional period.
The Kurdish National Council (ENKS/KNC) on Sunday called for Kurdish unity in Syria, and engagement with new authority in Damascus following the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad-led Baathist regime.
The federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) on Sunday agreed on steps to address delayed salaries of the Region’s employees and other financial disputes between Baghdad and Erbil.
A senior politburo member of Hamas said that the group is ready to strike a deal with Israel for a ceasefire and end the 14-month-long offensive of the latter which claimed the lives of tens of thousands in the Gaza Strip.
After a dramatic uptick in value over the past few days, the Syrian Lira began declining on Sunday as demand for the currency waned in the Kurdistan Region markets.
Masoud Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), on Sunday responded to Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leader Ahmed al-Sharaa's statement about Kurds in Syria and expressed hope of correcting the wrong treatment of the Kurds.
The bodies of Naila Mustafa and her 9-month-old daughter Noor who drowned when their boat sank in the Aegean Sea, were returned to Sulaimani on Saturday to be buried in Ranya.
The seizure of Captagon production resources in Syria after the collapse of the Assad regime will have a "positive impact" on the entire region, including Kurdistan, said Captain Arkan Bibani, spokesperson for the Kurdistan Region's anti-narcotics directorate.
United States influence in the Middle East will be restored when President-elect Donald Trump returns to power in Washington, a former envoy told Rudaw.
The foreign ministers of eight Arab countries and the head of the Arab League on Saturday expressed their support for a peaceful political transition in Syria, a week after the Baathist regime led by Bashar al-Assad was toppled.
The global chemical weapons watchdog held a rare emergency meeting in The Hague on Thursday to discuss concerns over stockpiles of chemical weapons in Syria after the collapse of the regime.
Stars on the red carpet at the Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah praised the festival’s support for women and films bringing unique perspectives to global audiences.
Mazloum Abdi, commander of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), said early on Friday that they are monitoring reports of casualties in northern Raqqa and pledged transparency amid allegations that the SDF opened fire on civilians.
The Netherlands on Thursday presented a human rights award to a United States-based organization that monitors lethal conflict within the Kurdistan Region’s borders.
Damascus International Airport lies in disarray, with abandoned planes on the runway and no visible activity, following the takeover of the Syrian capital by rebel groups with ongoing talks to resume operations.
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Thursday met with United Kingdom’s Chief of the Defence Staff Sir Anthony Radakin to discuss regional developments, the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS), and relations between Erbil, Baghdad, and London.
The Kurdish administration in northeast Syria (Rojava) decided on Thursday to raise the new flag of the country, previously used by the opposition, across its institutions following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
Five schools in Duhok province’s Amedi district have halted studies due to ongoing clashes between the Turkish army and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in the border areas of the Kurdistan Region.
United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to visit Jordan and Turkey from Wednesday through Friday to discuss rebuilding an “inclusive” Syria and preventing it from being used “as a base of terrorism,” State Department spokesperson said.
A spokesperson for the clans and tribes of the Syrian eastern province of Deir ez-Zor on Wednesday urged the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to engage in negotiations and avoid confrontation in Syrian Arab majority areas amid claims by Syrian rebels of capturing Deir ez-Zor city.
Syrians who had been kept in the infamous Sednaya prison in the capital city of Damascus for their political views are celebrating their freedom after years of torture under Bashar al-Assad's regime which fell on Sunday following a surprise offensive by rebels.
The federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) have redirected funds from the Region’s budget share to address salary shortfalls, with civil servants having gone nearly two months without pay.
The people of northeast Syria (Rojava) deserve to be heard and have their aspirations recognized amid constant threats to their lives, and peace will not prevail in the Middle East without resolving the Kurdish issue, Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leader Bafel Talabani said on Tuesday.
The pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) on Monday called on President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to play a "constructive role" in solving the Kurdish issue in the country, stressing the need for an Ankara-centered solution.
United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday that Washington is determined to prevent the Islamic State (ISIS) from reemerging in Syria and has a “clear interest” in avoiding the country's fragmentation.
Suspected Israeli warplanes on Monday carried out airstrikes against positions of the former regime in the city of Qamishli in northeast Syria (Rojava). The strikes reportedly targeted military bases and weapon depots near the city’s airport.
Hundreds of Syrian nationals living in Turkey, stood in long lines at the border crossings in southern Turkey, yearning to return to their homeland, following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
Two suspected Islamic State (ISIS) members and two police officers were killed during a raid near Anbar province’s Falluja district, Iraqi police announced on Monday.
The next US administration should not ignore Syria because it is an “important” country, given that America has a military base there, a former American diplomat said on Monday.
Despite a recent amnesty issued by the authorities in Afrin, around 200 Kurds remain in prisons, a Kurdish National Council (ENKS/KNC) said on Monday, noting that over 2,000 families have returned to the Kurdish city since the start of the recent escalations in Syria.
Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Monday arrived in Bahrain to discuss regional security.
United States President Joe Biden on Sunday labeled the Syrian people’s triumph against Bashar al-Assad’s regime a “historic opportunity” and called to hold the ousted Syrian president “accountable.”
The United States army announced on Sunday that it carried out airstrikes against 75 Islamic State (ISIS) camps in Syria, to prevent the group from taking “advantage” of the recent kerfuffle in the country.
Iraq’s four presidencies and the ruling State Administration Coalition met on Sunday to discuss the latest developments in Syria, and the need to facilitate the return of Iraqi nationals from Syria.
Amnesty International on Sunday called for bringing perpetrators of human rights violations in Syria to justice following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
Ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his family are in Moscow, Russian state media reported on Sunday, adding that Russia has granted them asylum, less than 24 hours after the collapse of the regime in Syria.
The best path forward for Syria is for its key actors to collaborate in shaping a shared future, a conflict expert told Rudaw on Sunday, as the country celebrates the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime, days after rebels launched a blistering offensive.
Kurdistan Region Presidency said on Sunday it is following the developments in Syria with “great interest” and calls on all parties to utilize dialogue and peace to resolve the conflict.
Political parties in north and northeast Syria (Rojava) on Sunday urged the public to “protect the achievements” of the Kurdish-led administration, emphasizing the need for comprehensive national dialogue in Syria, amid attacks by Syrian National Army (SNA) militias on Kurdish forces in the northern city of Manbij. The parties also called for starting comprehensive national dialogue in Syria.
The collapse of Bashar Assad’s regime does not signify the end of the Syrian crisis, a former United Nations diplomat told Rudaw on Monday , warning that ideological differences among the opposition and factionalization between armed groups are the next challenges for Syrians to overcome.
Syrian rebels led by the Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) on Sunday announced that they had taken full control of the strategic city of Homs on their way towards the capital, Damascus.
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Saturday congratulated French President Emmanuel Macron on the reopening of the iconic Notre Dame cathedral, stating that the event symbolizes resilience to preserve the “shared human heritage.”
France’s invitation to Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani to attend the reopening of Notre Dame cathedral is evidence of the strength of the relationship between France and Kurds just as Kurds in Syria need international support, a French senator told Rudaw on Saturday.
The foreign ministers of Iraq, Russia, Iran, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and Qatar are in Doha holding an emergency meeting on the latest developments in Syria.
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Saturday issued a general amnesty in areas of Deir ez-Zor province that are newly under their control.
The Syrian army has begun retreating from areas inside Damascus, consolidating their positions in the north of the city as rebels close in on the capital, the head of a conflict monitor told Rudaw on Saturday, predicting that Assad family rule is taking its final breaths.
United States President-elect Donald Trump said on Saturday that the conflict in Syria is not America’s fight and it should not get involved.
According to the Barzani Charity Foundation (BCF), over 4,000 Kurds have returned home to Afrin from Shahba. However, Arabs from Latakia, Deir ez-Zor, Aleppo and other areas have settled in Kurdish homes on the Afrin border and refuse to leave.
Syrian rebel forces on Friday reached out to Russia and China, allies of the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that he hopes the rebel offensive in Syria goes off “smoothly,” adding that the situation is the result of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s obstinacy towards Ankara’s efforts to repair their relationship.