Kurds

Sharaa's Islamist army fuels Syria's descent into sectarian slaughter

BEHIND THE LINES: In just eight months of Sunni Islamist rule in Syria, already three large-scale incidents of sectarian violence have taken place.

 Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa looks on as he attends the “Aleppo, Key to Victory” celebration marking Syria’s liberation, in Aleppo, Syria May 27, 2025.
A man walks next to a damaged military vehicle, following deadly clashes between Druze fighters, Sunni Bedouin tribes and government forces, in Syria's predominantly Druze city of Sweida, Syria July 25, 2025

Turkey to provide Syria with weapon systems, equipment under new accord

 Syrian Kurds make the peace sign as they gather after Turkey's jailed militant leader Abdullah Ocalan called on his Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) to lay down its arms in Hasakah, Syria February 27, 2025.

Syria will not take part in meetings with Kurdish-led SDF in Paris, state TV says

SYRIAN DEMOCRATIC Forces celebrate the first anniversary of Raqqa province’s liberation from ISIS, in Raqqa, Syria, in October 2018.

Kurdish-led SDF not complying with Syria integration deal, Turkish source says


Family of Kurd executed by Iran deny allegations linking him with Mossad - report

Iran's judiciary has executed Kurdish porters under charges including "moharebeh" (enmity against God), and "efsad-e fel-arz" (corruption on earth).

Kurdish men carry goods on their backs along the mountains of the Iran-Iraq border; illustrative.

Turkey under Erdogan: Friend or foe to US and Israel? - opinion

While relations between Washington and Ankara may be warming, there is no sign that Erdogan is cooling his anti-Israel rhetoric.

SYRIA’S PRESIDENT Ahmed al-Sharaa and Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrive for a news conference in Ankara earlier this year. Israel, the US, and Turkey are key players in setting the fate of Syria and regional stability, the writer maintains.

Why Israel must support Syria’s minorities - opinion

Israel may be the only hope for vulnerable minorities in Syria in need of protection from the new Syrian regime.

THE US has lifted economic sanctions on Syria and President Donald Trump even met with Ahmed al-Sharaa in May, in Riyadh, praising him highly, the writer notes.

ISIS likely culprit behind attack on US-backed SDF in east Syria - analysis

This matters because if ISIS is on the rise in parts of Syria, then it will require coordination between Damascus and the SDF. The SDF controls a third of Syria.

 SDF commander Mazloum Abdi, attends an interview with Reuters in Shaddadi, Syria, June 13, 2025.

Why Erdogan, not Netanyahu, is the real threat to Middle East peace - opinion

While Israel has worked to put an end to Iran’s campaign to dominate the Middle East, Turkey has consistently undermined peace.

 TURKISH PRESIDENT Recep Tayyip Erdogan meets with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization last week in Khankendi, Azerbaijan.

Jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan says armed struggle with Turkey over

The video marks a rare and pivotal moment in the long-running conflict, offering what could be Erdogan's most significant opportunity yet to seal a political settlement to the Kurdish issue.

 Syrian Kurds hold flags as they gather after Turkey's jailed militant leader Abdullah Ocalan called on his Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) to lay down its arms on Thursday, a move that could end its 40-year conflict with Ankara and have far-reaching political and security consequences for the region,

PKK moves towards peace: Ocalan’s historic appeal for a democratic future - analysis

The PKK had said it would lay down its arms and disband back in May. However, it is not clear when this process will begin and how long it will take.

 A demonstrator holds a picture of jailed Kurdish militant leader Abdullah Ocalan during a rally in Diyarbakir, Turkey, February 27, 2025.

Kurdish PKK militants to begin handing over arms in Iraq on Friday, NTV says

The PKK, in a conflict with Turkey for over 40 years, decided in May to disband after a public call from jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan in February.

 Syrian Kurds hold up an image of Turkey's jailed militant leader Abdullah Ocalan as they gather after Ocalan called on his Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) to lay down its arms on Thursday,  in Hasakah, Syria February 27, 2025.

Who is behind the mysterious drone attack targets Kurdish region in Iraq? - analysis

Over the past few weeks there have been a concerning pattern of attacks, though it is not clear who would have an agenda to target Yazidis.

 A woman holds the flag of Kurdistan during the celebration of Nowruz Day, a festival marking the first day of spring and Persian New Year, in Akra, Iraq March 20, 2025.

Kurdish parties demand uprising against regime’s oppression in Iran

Kurdish political groups in Iran are calling for an uprising against the Islamic Regime amid the Israel-Iran War.

 People step on the posters of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi as supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) take part in a protest, in Brussels, Belgium March 20, 2023.

Erbil on edge as suspected Iranian drone crashes in Iraq en route to Israel

This is only the latest incident which saw Kurds in Erbil subjected to Iranian attacks.

 Members of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI) walk back to their outpost near Erbil, Kurdistan region of Iraq on Saturday, June 10, 2023. The KDPI, a leftist Kurdish group of Iran that has been running an armed struggle against the Islamic Republic's regime in Iran from exile for decades