POLITICS

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Bassam Ishak, a senior member of the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) based in Washington, D.C., strongly criticized a new US-supported initiative to incorporate thousands of foreign fighters into Syria’s national military, describing it as a significant departure from prior American policy. In an interview with Rudaw, Ishak…

BARITLE, Iraq — The Baritle (Bartella) branch of the Beth Nahrain Patriotic Union (Huyodo Bethnahrin Athroyo, HBA) shared in the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).  On this occasion, HBA extended congratulations on behalf of the party’s leadership and members, wishing…

SHIGUR, Iraq — Naif Sido, District Administrator of Shigur (Şengal / Sinjar), criticized the Iraqi federal government for its failure to provide adequate services to the war-torn region, which remains severely damaged from the devastation caused by the Islamic State (ISIS) and the fight to retake the city. “The funds…

ANKARA — The United States announced a significant policy shift in Syria, marking a turning point in its approach to the country. US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Thomas Barrack stated plans to drastically reduce America’s military presence while supporting a Syrian initiative to integrate thousands of…

BETH NAHRIN — The Bethnahrin National Council (Mawtbo Umthoyo d’Bethnahrin, MUB) held its annual congress on Saturday under the slogan The Congress of National Struggle, issuing a closing statement that reaffirmed its dedication to advancing the national, political, and cultural rights of the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) people at a critical political…

DARAMSUQ — Officials from the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAARNES), including co-chair of the Syriac Union Party Sanharib Barsom, met with representatives of the Syrian Transitional Government (STG) on Sunday in Daramsuq (Damascus), marking the first formal round of negotiations between the two sides. The meeting,…

BEIRUT — Samir Geagea, the head of the Lebanese Forces (LF), issued a stark warning on Saturday against any attempt to delay or obstruct a government-backed plan to collect illegal weapons from Palestinian refugee camps, calling such moves a “fatal blow” to the newly formed government and its state-building efforts. …

ZALIN, North and East Syria — A high-level delegation from the European Parliament, led by Martin Schirdewan, co-chair of The Left group, visited the headquarters of the Foreign Relations Department of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of the Region of North and East Syria (DAARNES) this week, in a gesture of…

HASAKEH, North and East Syria — In a bold and wide-ranging interview that signaled a shift in regional dynamics, General Mazloum Abdi, the Commander-in-Chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), confirmed for the first time that his forces are in direct communication with Turkey. He also expressed a willingness to…

ATBA’ILO, Kurdistan Region of Iraq / BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Ministry of Finance has halted the disbursement of salaries for public employees in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), triggering a fresh wave of tension and raising fears of an escalating financial and humanitarian crisis in the semi-autonomous region. The Kurdistan…