Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa (right) shakes hands with Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani before their meeting in Damascus, Aug. 3, 2026. (Credit: Presidency of the Kurdistan Region in Iraq/AFP)
From the uncertain integration of Syria’s Kurdish forces to Iranian strikes in northern Iraq, Kurdish movements are being forced to adapt to a regional order increasingly shaped by powerful neighboring states. Against this backdrop, Nechirvan Barzani’s arrival in Damascus on Monday carries significance that extends far beyond relations between Syria and Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan Region. The visit, the first by a president of Iraqi Kurdistan since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, comes as Kurdish actors in four countries across the region face a profound reshaping of their political environment, even though the changes take different forms in each context. Meanwhile... The defense industry, a pillar of Turkish power Conditions for Kurdish survival in SyriaAt the entrance to the presidential palace in Damascus, two imposing...
From the uncertain integration of Syria’s Kurdish forces to Iranian strikes in northern Iraq, Kurdish movements are being forced to adapt to a regional order increasingly shaped by powerful neighboring states. Against this backdrop, Nechirvan Barzani’s arrival in Damascus on Monday carries significance that extends far beyond relations between Syria and Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan Region. The visit, the first by a president of Iraqi Kurdistan since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, comes as Kurdish actors in four countries across the region face a profound reshaping of their political environment, even though the changes take different forms in each context. Meanwhile... The defense industry, a pillar of Turkish power Conditions for Kurdish survival in SyriaAt the entrance to the presidential palace in Damascus, two...
