Kurds – War Watch

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Belgium | Benjamin Netanyahu | Culture | Documentary films | Donald Trump | Europe | Film | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Kurds | Middle East and north Africa | Migration | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | World news

Hold on to Her review – horrific death of a two-year-old puts immigration crackdown in spotlight
ByPhil Hoad February 2, 2026

Robin Vanbiesen’s documentary uses the killing of Mawda Shawri in Belgium as the starting point to explore the dehumanising machinery of border policyHere is an insightful but perhaps over oblique Belgian documentary that sets itself an ambitious goal:…

Read More Hold on to Her review – horrific death of a two-year-old puts immigration crackdown in spotlight
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Kurds | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Syria | World news

Syrian government and Kurdish forces reach deal on permanent truce
ByWilliam Christou January 30, 2026

Milestone appears to resolve escalating tensions over the question of Kurdish autonomy in north-east SyriaThe Syrian government and Kurdish-led forces have reached an agreement to extend a fragile ceasefire into a permanent truce, laying a framework fo…

Read More Syrian government and Kurdish forces reach deal on permanent truce
al-Shara, Ahmed (Abu Mohammad al-Jolani) (1982- ) | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Kurds | Syria | Syrian Democratic Forces | War and Armed Conflicts

Syrian Government and Kurdish-Led Militia Seal a Deal to Merge Forces
ByChristina Goldbaum January 30, 2026January 30, 2026

The long-anticipated agreement closes a period of intense uncertainty in northeastern Syria after rebel forces led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, who is now the president, seized power in December 2024.

Read More Syrian Government and Kurdish-Led Militia Seal a Deal to Merge Forces
al-Shara, Ahmed (Abu Mohammad al-Jolani) (1982- ) | Defense and Military Forces | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Kurds | Peace Process | Syria | Syrian Army | Syrian Democratic Forces | Terrorism | War and Armed Conflicts

Syria Announces Cease-Fire Extension, Hours After Truce With Kurds Expired
ByAbdi Latif Dahir January 24, 2026January 24, 2026

Syria’s government and Kurdish-led forces in the country’s northeast have clashed as President Ahmed al-Sharaa seeks to extend his authority across the entire country.

Read More Syria Announces Cease-Fire Extension, Hours After Truce With Kurds Expired
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Iraq | Islamic State | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Kurds | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Syria | World news

The ‘ticking-bomb’ Syrian prisons filled with IS suspects – video explainer
By January 24, 2026

The Syrian government has taken control of several prison camps holding Islamic State (IS) suspects in the north-east of the country.The takeover took place after the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which previously controlled the facilities, signed a …

Read More The ‘ticking-bomb’ Syrian prisons filled with IS suspects – video explainer
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Feminism | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Kurds | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Society | Syria | Women | World news

The revolutionary women of Rojava are in grave danger. That has consequences for us all | Natasha Walter
ByNatasha Walter January 22, 2026

For a decade, the autonomous territory in Syria has been a bastion of gender equality. It holds important lessons for the fight against authoritarianismA year ago, I was in north-east Syria, in the Kurdish-dominated area known as Rojava, listening to s…

Read More The revolutionary women of Rojava are in grave danger. That has consequences for us all | Natasha Walter
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Islamic State | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Kurds | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Syria | World news

Concern over north-east Syria security amid fears IS militants could re-emerge
ByDan Sabbagh Defence and security editor January 21, 2026

US military says it has transported ‘IS fighters’ to Iraq after Kurdish-controlled prisons and camps changed handsConcerned western officials said they were closely monitoring the deteriorating security situation in north-east Syria amid fears that Isl…

Read More Concern over north-east Syria security amid fears IS militants could re-emerge
al-Shara, Ahmed (Abu Mohammad al-Jolani) (1982- ) | internal-open-access-from-nl | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Kurds | Syrian Democratic Forces | War and Armed Conflicts

U.S. Pivot in Syria Leaves an Old Ally in the Lurch
ByBen Hubbard and Carlotta Gall January 21, 2026January 21, 2026

A Kurdish force that helped defeat the Islamic State is collapsing as the Trump administration turns to back the new Syrian government.

Read More U.S. Pivot in Syria Leaves an Old Ally in the Lurch
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Islamic State | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Kurds | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Syria | World news

Syrian army takes control of detention camp for Islamic State suspects
ByAgence France-Presse January 21, 2026January 21, 2026

Move follows withdrawal of Kurdish forces from al-Hawl, where 24,000 people are being held over alleged IS linksSyrian government forces have taken control of al-Hawl detention camp, which houses tens of thousands of suspected Islamic State members, af…

Read More Syrian army takes control of detention camp for Islamic State suspects
Al Hol Detention Camp (Syria) | internal-open-access-from-nl | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Kurds | Politics and Government | Prisons and Prisoners | Syria | Syrian Democratic Forces | War and Armed Conflicts

U.S. Shifts Away From Kurdish-Led Forces in Fight Against ISIS
ByEuan Ward and Alissa J. Rubin January 20, 2026January 20, 2026

The U.S. envoy to Syria said Washington was confident the Syrian government could take over the country’s fight against the Islamic State terrorist group.

Read More U.S. Shifts Away From Kurdish-Led Forces in Fight Against ISIS