Kobane is a Kurdish city and must be left untouched: President Barzani

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - President Masoud Barzani warned on Friday that any harm to the Kurdish population in northeastern Syria (Rojava) would be unacceptable, stressing that Kobane must remain protected. He added that, if circumstances allowed, he would again send Peshmerga forces to the city, as he did in 2014 when ISIS posed an existential threat - this time to counter armed groups affiliated with Damascus.

“I will do whatever I can for Kobane,” President Barzani told reporters during a press conference in Rome on Friday. “If the opportunity that existed in 2014 were available today, I would send forces to Kobane immediately. Unfortunately, that opportunity no longer exists.”

Kobane, a Kurdish city and a powerful symbol of resistance where the myth of ISIS was shattered, has been under a severe siege for more than a week. The city has been surrounded by Damascus-backed armed groups, with water, electricity, and internet services cut off, placing its residents under mounting pressure in the depths of winter.

The city was previously attacked by the Islamic State (ISIS) in 2014, but later gained global recognition after successfully resisting the group and ultimately being liberated by Rojava’s de facto forces - the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) - with support from the US-led Global Coalition and Peshmerga forces from the Kurdistan Region.

Civil society organizations in Rojava have warned of an “imminent humanitarian catastrophe” in Kobane, urging Kurdish leadership in the Kurdistan Region, the United Nations, and the international community to intervene and halt attacks by Damascus-affiliated factions.

“Kobane is a Kurdish area. It must be left untouched,” President Barzani warned. “This is what they [the SDF and Damascus] have agreed upon.”

He added that support for the people of Rojava goes beyond words.

“Our hearts are with our brothers and sisters. This is not merely solidarity - we are doing everything we can. I have never supported conflict, nor have I liked it. But if it reaches a point where Kurds are harmed, we will be ready to do whatever is necessary.”

President Barzani reiterated that any attempt to marginalize or remove Kurds from the region would be met with unity.

“If there is a plot against the Kurds, we will stand together as one,” he said. “If the situation reaches a point where Kurds are harmed, we will do everything required.”

What is going on in northern Syria?

Since mid-January, Syrian government forces and allied armed groups have advanced into SDF-held territories in eastern Aleppo, as well as parts of Deir ez-Zor, Raqqa, and the predominantly Kurdish Hasaka province.

The rapid advances followed the takeover of the two predominantly Kurdish neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsood and Ashrafiyeh after days of intense clashes.

“As soon as fighting broke out in Aleppo, I sent a message to Ahmad al-Sharaa, the current president of Syria, through a mutual Arab friend,” Barzani said. “I told him that political disputes must be resolved through dialogue, but harming Kurds cannot be tolerated, as it would have dangerous repercussions.”

According to Barzani, al-Sharaa later requested a phone call. “I spoke with him, and he assured me that this would not happen - that it was impossible - and that they would not allow harm to come to the Kurds,” Barzani said.

President Barzani accused certain Arab tribal groups of instigating clashes against the SDF.

“These tribes were once aligned with Bashar al-Assad. When ISIS arrived, they joined it. After ISIS was defeated, they aligned with the SDF. Now that Damascus has returned, they have once again shifted allegiance and handed over their areas,” he said.

“This is where the problem began,” Barzani added. “I previously warned Mazloum [Abdi] and others that these Arab-majority areas could one day become a serious source of problem."

Ceasefire

A ceasefire agreement signed earlier this month, aimed at integrating SDF structures into Syrian state institutions, has remained fragile and has been repeatedly violated. Each breakdown has renewed fears of further displacement and wider instability, including threats to ISIS detention facilities and the potential resurgence of the group.

On Tuesday, the Syrian presidency announced that Damascus and the SDF had reached a “mutual understanding” on several issues, granting the SDF a four-day consultation period to develop a detailed plan outlining practical mechanisms for integration.

The presidency added that, if finalized, the agreement would see Syrian government forces refrain from entering the centers of the predominantly Kurdish cities of Hasaka and Qamishli, remaining instead on their outskirts.

The SDF has repeatedly accused Damascus-backed factions of violating the fragile truce.

“Positive steps have been taken, and we hope the ceasefire will hold and lead to a solution that benefits all sides,” President Barzani said. “Fighting serves no one’s interests. What matters is action. Empty rhetoric and posturing are unnecessary.”

The ISIS threat

Escalating tensions have heightened concerns among Kurds in Rojava, particularly following reports that Damascus-affiliated factions facilitated the escape of a significant number of ISIS members previously held in SDF-run detention facilities.

On Wednesday, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced it had transferred 150 ISIS militants from northeastern Syria to Iraq, with plans to increase the number to 7,000.

Early Friday, the Syrian Arab Army announced it had begun transferring SDF members from al-Aqtan prison and surrounding areas in Raqqa province to Kobane as part of a ceasefire arrangement. The move marks the first step in implementing a January 18 agreement under which Syria’s Ministry of Interior is set to assume control of the prison’s administration.

The withdrawal followed an appeal by the SDF to the international community and the US-led Global Coalition against ISIS to formally take over the facility.

“The ISIS threat is very serious,” President Barzani warned. “ISIS is not finished.”

He cautioned that Syria’s current instability has provided “a golden opportunity” for the group to resurge, adding that while the exact number of escaped detainees remains unclear, available information suggests it is significant.

“This is a major threat,” he said.