Kurdish Autonomous Administration Criticizes US, Russia Silence Over Turkish Raids

Flames rising from the power station in Qamishli on Monday after a Turkish bombing (EPA)
Flames rising from the power station in Qamishli on Monday after a Turkish bombing (EPA)
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Kurdish Autonomous Administration Criticizes US, Russia Silence Over Turkish Raids

Flames rising from the power station in Qamishli on Monday after a Turkish bombing (EPA)
Flames rising from the power station in Qamishli on Monday after a Turkish bombing (EPA)

A prominent Kurdish official said the US administration and Russia were responsible for the escalation of recent Turkish attacks in northeast Syria, demanding intervention of the Security Council and the implementation of international ceasefire resolutions.
On Monday, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) said in a statement that Türkiye launched more than seven military airstrikes in its recent attacks.
Turkish aircraft also targeted five of the Internal Security Forces (Asayish) checkpoints and oil sites and facilities.
The statement explained that the continuous bombing over the past 72 hours targeted 45 facilities, homes, and civilian property, injuring six citizens.

The AANES said Türkiye is launching a blatant cross-border attack targeting civilian infrastructure, aiming to displace them and empty the region of its indigenous population, according to deputy co-chair of the Executive Council Badran Jia-Kurd.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Jia-Kurd said the Turkish attack is part of Ankara's war to strike social solidarity and the political process led by the Autonomous Administration.
He condemned the US and Russia's silence regarding the repeated Turkish attacks, adding that Washington and Moscow must pressure Türkiye to stop its aggression.
"Our forces are committed to their right to respond to hostile attacks in the areas controlled by Türkiye and its loyal factions."
The Kurdish official said the US and Russian armies are deployed in these areas under military agreements to reduce the escalation.
He demanded that Washington and Moscow present the Turkish crimes to the Security Council due to Türkiye's failure to adhere to the ceasefire resolution and obstructing the implementation of Resolution 2254.
Over four consecutive days, Turkish military aircraft and drones targeted drinking water stations, laboratories, civilian warehouses, and wedding halls.
Türkiye had repeatedly targeted the Odeh oil field near al-Qahtaniyah in the eastern countryside, costing the administration tens of thousands of dollars in repairs. It is one of the largest oil fields in northeastern Syria.
Furthermore, the head of Jazira region's Energy Department, Akram Suleiman, declared that Turkish attacks caused widespread power outages in nine towns, half of Qamishli's cities, and 2232 villages.
During a phone interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Suleiman said the Swedish electric power generation facility has also been out of service as a result of the Turkish bombing, targeting all sources of natural gas production.
Meanwhile, the General Command of the Syrian Democratic Forces said that the Turkish attacks disrupted the provision of essential services, denying Turkish allegations that its members were killed during the recent attacks.
The General Command asserted in a statement on Monday that these allegations were false, noting that Türkiye aims to disrupt people's lives and target the infrastructure.

The authority asserted that it would respond under the legitimate right of self-defense.



UN Chief Condemns Israeli Law Blocking Electricity, Water for UNRWA Facilities

A girl stands in the courtyard of a building of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in the Askar camp for Palestinian refugees, east of Nablus in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on December 31, 2025. (AFP)
A girl stands in the courtyard of a building of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in the Askar camp for Palestinian refugees, east of Nablus in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on December 31, 2025. (AFP)
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UN Chief Condemns Israeli Law Blocking Electricity, Water for UNRWA Facilities

A girl stands in the courtyard of a building of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in the Askar camp for Palestinian refugees, east of Nablus in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on December 31, 2025. (AFP)
A girl stands in the courtyard of a building of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in the Askar camp for Palestinian refugees, east of Nablus in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on December 31, 2025. (AFP)

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned on Wednesday a move by Israel to ban electricity or water to facilities owned by the UN Palestinian refugee agency, a UN spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said the move would "further impede" the agency's ability to operate and carry out activities.

"The Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations remains applicable to UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East), its property and assets, and to its officials and other personnel. Property used ‌by UNRWA ‌is inviolable," Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the ‌secretary-general, ⁠said while ‌adding that UNRWA is an "integral" part of the world body.

UNRWA Commissioner General Phillipe Lazzarini also condemned the move, saying that it was part of an ongoing " systematic campaign to discredit UNRWA and thereby obstruct" the role it plays in providing assistance to Palestinian refugees.

In 2024, the Israeli parliament passed a law banning the agency from operating in ⁠the country and prohibiting officials from having contact with the agency.

As a ‌result, UNRWA operates in East Jerusalem, ‍which the UN considers territory occupied ‍by Israel. Israel considers all Jerusalem to be part ‍of the country.

The agency provides education, health and aid to millions of Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. It has long had tense relations with Israel, but ties have deteriorated sharply since the start of the war in Gaza and Israel has called repeatedly for UNRWA to ⁠be disbanded, with its responsibilities transferred to other UN agencies.

The prohibition of basic utilities to the UN agency came as Israel also suspended of dozens of international non-governmental organizations working in Gaza due to a failure to meet new rules to vet those groups.

In a joint statement, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom said on Tuesday such a move would have a severe impact on the access of essential services, including healthcare. They said one in ‌three healthcare facilities in Gaza would close if international NGO operations stopped.


Israel Says It ‘Will Enforce’ Ban on 37 NGOs in Gaza

The sun sets behind the ruins of destroyed buildings in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on December 31, 2025. (AFP)
The sun sets behind the ruins of destroyed buildings in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on December 31, 2025. (AFP)
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Israel Says It ‘Will Enforce’ Ban on 37 NGOs in Gaza

The sun sets behind the ruins of destroyed buildings in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on December 31, 2025. (AFP)
The sun sets behind the ruins of destroyed buildings in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on December 31, 2025. (AFP)

Israel said on Thursday that 37 international NGOs operating in Gaza had not complied with a deadline to meet "security and transparency standards," in particular disclosing information on their Palestinian staff, and that it "will enforce" a ban on their activities.

"Organizations that have failed to meet required security and transparency standards will have their licenses suspended," said spokesman for the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, Gilad Zwick.

In March, Israel gave a ten-month deadline to NGOs to comply with the new rules, which expired on Wednesday night.

The UN has warned that the ban will exacerbate the humanitarian situation in Gaza.


Syria’s Interior Minister Warns Remnants of Former Regime

FILE PHOTO: Members of the Syrian Security forces stand guard near military vehicles on the day people protest in Latakia, Syria, December 28, 2025. REUTERS/Karam al-Masri/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Members of the Syrian Security forces stand guard near military vehicles on the day people protest in Latakia, Syria, December 28, 2025. REUTERS/Karam al-Masri/File Photo
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Syria’s Interior Minister Warns Remnants of Former Regime

FILE PHOTO: Members of the Syrian Security forces stand guard near military vehicles on the day people protest in Latakia, Syria, December 28, 2025. REUTERS/Karam al-Masri/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Members of the Syrian Security forces stand guard near military vehicles on the day people protest in Latakia, Syria, December 28, 2025. REUTERS/Karam al-Masri/File Photo

Syrian Interior Minister Anas Khattab has warned the remnants of the former regime against efforts to lead chaos, killing, and destruction as his ministry announced the arrest of several people in Latakia and Tartus for involvement in war crimes and instigations that threaten civil peace.

Khattab stressed on Wednesday that the state is the sole guarantor for all citizens, ensuring their security, preserving their dignity, and safeguarding their rights.

The minister said in a statement on X that since the early days following Syria’s liberation, the ministry has positioned itself as a central force in restoring order and safety across the country.

This effort has been carried out in coordination with other government agencies and local communities to confront a wide range of security challenges.

Khattab stressed that the ministry’s new approach to policing prioritizes public safety over intimidation. “Our goal is to protect citizens, not to frighten them,” he said, adding that a formal code of conduct has been introduced to ensure law enforcement operates within clear legal and ethical boundaries.

Despite these reforms, remnants of the deposed regime who have aligned themselves with wanted criminals have misinterpreted the ministry’s ethical approach as weakness. “We will protect the oppressed and hold accountable anyone who threatens our country’s security,” he said.

The minister warned the remnants of the defunct regime and their criminal gangs, who insist on continuing the path of chaos, killing, and destruction to “await their inevitable fate.”

“Let this message serve as a final warning to them to cease their actions,” he added.

Meanwhile, the ministry said on its Telegram channel that several people were arrested in operations in Latakia and Tartus after external calls by instigators have led to sectarian chaos and left many people dead and injured.

“The operation came in response to external inciting calls of a sectarian nature, which led to a state of chaos, the death of a number of people, the injury of others, and assaults on public and private property,” it said, noting that “operations are ongoing against these corrupt individuals.”

The ministry said in its statement that it has played an active role in restoring the social fabric and strengthening civil peace. However, “some parties have sought to exploit this stage to spread chaos, undermine security, and threaten stability.”