kurdpress

DEM Party MP:

Turkey Has Linked the Kurdish Issue to Developments in Syrian Kurdistan

Turkey Desk – A Member of Parliament for Van representing the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), referring to the recent NATO meeting in Ankara, claimed that a new mission has been defined for Turkey within the NATO framework. According to him, the Turkish government has tied the process of resolving the Kurdish issue to recent developments in Syrian Kurdistan and other foreign policy considerations.

The Sudden Death of Lindsey Graham; End of the Life of a Prominent Supporter of the Kurds

World Service – The sudden death of Lindsey Graham—an influential Republican senator and one of Donald Trump’s closest allies—has marked the end of the life of one of the most prominent supporters of the Kurds in the U.S. Congress. In recent years, he had repeatedly advocated for Washington’s support of the Kurds in Syria and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

The Peace Process in Turkey and the Future of the Kurdish Movement

World Service – Researchers at a conference held at the Free University of Brussels maintained that the success of the peace process between Turkey and the Kurds hinges on shifting the struggle from the military to the political arena and strengthening grassroots institutions, although there are differences of opinion regarding how to achieve this goal.

Infographic:

Distribution of Security and Military Forces in Erbil and Sulaymaniyah

Iraq and Kurdistan Region Service – According to figures released by the Kurdistan Regional Government's Ministry of Finance, out of a total of 413,721 security and military personnel in the provinces of Erbil and Sulaymaniyah, 284,012 (69%) serve in Erbil province, while 129,709 (31%) serve in Sulaymaniyah province.

Kurdish Politician:

The Kurdish Issue Cannot Be Resolved Through a Security-Oriented Approach

World Service – Sabahat Tuncel, a Kurdish politician from Turkey, emphasizes that a security-focused approach to the Kurdish issue is the greatest obstacle to peace. She states that the current process will only yield results if the government moves away from policies of denial and pressure on Kurdish political activities.

An Alliance with Tehran and the Qushtapa Tragedy: A Historical Account of the Kurdistan Democratic Party’s Military Activities

Iraq and Kurdistan Region Desk – The documentary book *Atlas of the Ramadan Headquarters During the Sacred Defense Era* sheds light on lesser-known historical details regarding the structure, foreign collaborations, and military strategies of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) between 1946 and the end of the Iran-Iraq War in 1988. The documents within this atlas reveal how regional political developments altered the party's trajectory and its military calculations.

Mohsen Ghadermarzi, PhD in Geopolitics and Fellow at the Institute for International Energy Studies:

Kurdistan Region in the New Energy Order of the Middle East; From Crisis to Opportunity

The rapid geopolitical shifts in the Middle East—from the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria and escalating military tensions with Iran to the unprecedented disruption in the Strait of Hormuz—have fundamentally transformed the region's energy equations. In this new order, the Kurdistan Region of Iraq has emerged as a strategic focal point, playing a role far beyond that of an autonomous enclave in northern Iraq.

Pezhdar Altan:

Syria Has Become an Arena for Covert Rivalry Between Turkey, the US, and Israel

Syria Service – In a commentary examining recent developments in Syria—including Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Damascus and the explosions that coincided with it—Kurdish journalist Pezhdar Altan analyzed the security and intelligence rivalries among Turkey, the US, Israel, and other regional actors, while also addressing claims regarding Ankara’s role in these events.

Erdogan:

Through the success of the "Terror-Free Turkey" process, we will liberate Turkey from a 50-year-old issue

Turkey Desk – Emphasizing the continuation of the process known as "Terror-Free Turkey," the Turkish President stated that the success of this initiative would pave the way for a new era in both domestic affairs and foreign policy.

Islamic Union MP:

Salary Payment Delays Stem from KRG's Financial Irresponsibility

Iraq and Kurdistan Region Service – Fatih Sangawi, a member of the Kurdistan Region Parliament, criticized the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) financial policies, emphasizing that the delay in paying employee salaries is the result of the government's failure to honor financial obligations and the mismanagement of public revenues.

Is the Kurdistan Region the Most Security-Centric Governance Structure in the Region?

World Desk – New statistics from the Kurdistan Region’s Ministry of Finance, republished by the "Kurdistan Watch" institute, present a rare picture of the region's security apparatus, revealing that over 4.4 percent of the population serves in the Peshmerga forces, the police, and the Asayish. This ratio not only far exceeds those of neighboring countries and the European average but also demonstrates that the region's economy, politics, and governance system remain heavily influenced by security considerations and partisan rivalries.

The Story of a Kurdish Woman’s Return to Her Birthplace as a European Defense Minister

World News Desk – Dilan Yeşilgöz, who sought asylum in the Netherlands with her family as a child, returned to Ankara as the Defense Minister of a NATO member state and met with Turkey’s highest-ranking military official.

Messages and Implications of the Damascus Bombing Coinciding with Macron’s Visit

World Service – In an analysis of the explosions that coincided with Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Damascus, the German Center for Kurdish Studies views these attacks not so much as military operations, but rather as an attempt to convey a political and security-related message; the aim is to undermine the ability of Ahmad al-Shara’s transitional government to ensure security and to cast doubt on the future of investment and the normalization of relations between Syria and the West.

Germany to Close Its Military Base in Erbil

World Desk – The German government has decided to close its military camp near the airport in Erbil—the capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq—by the end of September and withdraw the bulk of its troops from the area; however, a small group of military advisors will remain in the region to continue cooperation with and training of Kurdish Peshmerga forces.

The Kurds; The Connecting Link in the New U.S. Strategy for Iraq, Syria, and Turkey

Analyses indicate that Washington is shaping a new order in West Asia anchored in energy, trade, and regional connectivity corridors. Within this framework, the Kurds act not as a single, monolithic player, but rather as connecting links between Iraq, Syria, and Turkey.

Kurdistan Region Hosts 14 Official Representations and 36 Foreign Consulates

Iraq and Kurdistan Region Service – The Kurdistan Region’s Department of Media and Information released the latest figures regarding the region's foreign relations and diplomacy, announcing that the Kurdistan Regional Government currently maintains 14 official representations abroad, while 36 consulates, diplomatic offices, and representations of international organizations operate within the region.

Syrian Interim Government Must Clarify the Fate of Thousands of Missing Detainees

Syria Service – Following a week-long visit to the country, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria issued a report calling for the clarification of the fate of thousands of detainees and missing persons, accountability for human rights violators, and the acceleration of the transitional justice process.

Islamic Union:

Kurdistan Region Party Leaders to Meet Soon

Iraq and Kurdistan Region Desk – The spokesperson for the Kurdistan Islamic Union announced that the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) have responded positively to an initiative by Salahaddin Bahaaddin to hold a meeting of party leaders. The meeting, involving parties that hold parliamentary blocs, is set to take place in the coming days to discuss ways to resolve the political deadlock.

Kobanî University Hosts Kurdish Art and Folklore Festival

Syria Service – Kobanî University hosted hundreds of students, researchers, and academics at a two-day festival dedicated to art and folklore—an event organized to honor Kurdish cultural heritage, boost student morale, and pass this legacy on to future generations.

Erdogan:

Turkey Will Continue Efforts to Cooperate with NATO Allies

Turkey Service – In a message regarding the 36th NATO summit hosted by Ankara, the Turkish President described the gathering as an opportunity to address security and defense issues as well as regional developments.

Shaswar Abdul Wahid:

We have filed a complaint against the Kurdistan Regional Government in the Federal Court

Iraqi and Kurdistan Regional Service - Shaswar Abdul Wahid, the leader of the New Generation Movement, announced that he has filed a formal complaint against the current Kurdistan Regional Government in the Iraqi Federal Court, demanding that the cabinet be recognized as a transitional government and that all its decisions be annulled after the end of its legal term.

Al-Sharaa Bets on the Kurdish National Council of Syria

World Service – By excluding the Democratic Union Party (PYD) from parliament and allocating the Kurdish seat to the Kurdish National Council of Syria, the president of the Syrian transitional government has sent a clear signal regarding his preferred partner among the Kurds—a move that could jeopardize efforts to maintain the political unity of Syrian Kurds.

Mass Gathering by Kobani Residents to Demand Official Recognition of the City's Historic Name

Syria Service – Residents of Kobani in Syrian Kurdistan held a large-scale gathering to demand the official registration of the historic name "Kobani" in all Syrian government documents and correspondence, emphasizing that the name is integral to the city's identity and history, as well as a global symbol of its people's resistance.

Trump Notifies Congress of Plan to Remove Syria from State Sponsors of Terrorism List

Syria Desk – The U.S. President has initiated the legal process to remove Syria from the list of state sponsors of terrorism by formally notifying Congress of his decision; if granted final approval following a 45-day review period, this move could mark a turning point in Washington's policy toward Damascus and the process of normalizing relations between the two nations.

64 Civilians Killed in Syria During First Week of July

Syria Service – The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that during the first week of July 2026, at least 64 civilians lost their lives across various parts of the country due to criminal acts, ISIS attacks, sporadic gunfire, the explosion of war remnants, and operations by certain security forces.

Family of Deceased PKK Member Denied Information on Burial Site

Turkey Desk – The Public Prosecutor's Office in the Lice district of Diyarbakır province has rejected a request to investigate the burial site of "Meqdad Erkek," a deceased PKK member. His family, seeking to identify the burial location and have their son's remains handed over to them, has announced plans to pursue the case through both domestic and international legal channels.

Kurdistan Justice Group Calls for Immediate Scheduling of New Kurdistan Parliamentary Elections

Iraq and Kurdistan Region Desk – In a statement addressing the political and judicial crises in the Kurdistan Region, the "Legal Affairs Committee of the Kurdistan Justice Group" called upon the Region's President to dissolve the sixth parliamentary term and set a new date for parliamentary elections as soon as possible, thereby restoring the legitimacy of legal institutions through the public vote.

Nouri al-Maliki:

Corruption in Al-Sudani’s Government Had Turned into "Plunder"

Iraq and Kurdistan Region Desk – Nouri al-Maliki, leader of the State of Law Coalition, criticized the performance of Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s government regarding the fight against corruption. He stated that corruption within the administration had become so pervasive that it could no longer be termed merely "corruption"; rather, it had evolved into the "plunder" of public assets.

Erdogan:

Turkey Has the Right to Purchase or Produce the Weapons of Its Choice

Turkey Desk – Following the NATO summit, Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that the alliance should not be merely a collection of mutually dependent nations, but rather a coalition of allies that strengthen one another's capabilities. He also emphasized Turkey's role within NATO and addressed issues regarding the defense industry, the war in Ukraine, Gaza, relations with the United States, and the F-35 program.

Why Do the US and Turkey Support Power-Sharing in the Kurdistan Region?

World Service – An analysis by the *National Context* website suggests that, contrary to popular belief, the US, Turkey, and even Baghdad are not particularly displeased with the persistence of dual power centers in the Kurdistan Region. From the perspective of these actors, the rivalry between the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) prevents either party from becoming the sole player in areas such as relations with Turkey, transit routes, and security and energy portfolios; this very balance preserves their bargaining power.