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Syrian government forces moved into two northern towns on Saturday after the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced their withdrawal in an apparent effort to prevent further clashes. State media said two soldiers were killed and several others injured in the latest violence. The town of Deir Hafer changed control following deadly fighting earlier this month between government troops and the US-backed SDF in Aleppo, Syria’s largest city. The clashes ended with Kurdish fighters leaving three neighbourhoods taken over by government forces. An Associated Press reporter saw government tanks, armoured vehicles and pickup trucks mounted with heavy machine guns entering Deir Hafer after bulldozers cleared roadblocks. No SDF fighters were seen on the outskirts of the town. The Syrian military said its forces had taken full control of Deir Hafer, seized the nearby Jarrah air base and were clearing mines and explosives. Troops later moved toward the nearby town of Maskana, where another military convoy was seen entering. However, the SDF said Syrian forces violated an agreement by entering Deir Hafer and Maskana before Kurdish fighters had fully withdrawn, warning that the move created a dangerous situation. In contrast, state news agency SANA accused the SDF of breaking the deal by attacking an army patrol near Maskana, killing two soldiers and wounding others. Over the past two days, more than 11,000 people fled Deir Hafer and Maskana using side roads to reach government-held areas after Damascus announced an offensive to retake the towns. Civilians flee ahead of possible Syrian army attack in Aleppo On Friday night, SDF commander Mazloum Abdi said his forces would pull out of contested areas in northern Syria and relocate east of the Euphrates River starting Saturday morning. The easing of tensions followed visits by US military officials to Deir Hafer on Friday, where they held talks with SDF leaders. The United States maintains ties with both sides and has called for calm. Abdi was also due to meet US special envoy to Syria Tom Barrack in Irbil, northern Iraq, on Saturday. The SDF’s withdrawal came a day after Syria’s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa issued a decree expanding Kurdish rights, recognising Kurdish as a national language alongside Arabic and declaring the Kurdish Newroz festival an official holiday. Kurdish authorities in northeast Syria said the rights of Kurds should be protected through constitutional guarantees rather than temporary decrees, adding that lasting protection must be written into the country’s future constitution.

Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last shah, has called on the international community to support protesters seeking to overthrow Iran’s government, saying the fall of the Islamic Republic is inevitable. Speaking at a news conference in Washington, Pahlavi said the world should help the protesters and urged “surgical” strikes on Iran’s Revolutionary Guards to weaken the authorities and prevent further loss of life. Protests erupted across Iran on Dec 28 over the country’s weak economy and falling currency. The demonstrations later turned into calls for the end of the rule of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Human rights groups say more than 2,000 protesters have been killed in the crackdown. The Iranian government has described the unrest as riots backed by foreign enemies. Pahlavi said parts of Iran’s security forces have refused to join the crackdown and claimed that foreign militia fighters were brought in to suppress the protests. He vowed to return to Iran and outlined plans for a new constitution based on democracy, individual freedom, and separation of religion and state. He said Iran’s future leadership should be decided by its people. “I am trying to help them liberate themselves,” he said. The protests began after shopkeepers in Tehran went on strike over rising prices and quickly spread nationwide. Demonstrators have chanted slogans against the Supreme Leader and the clerical leadership.   With inputs from BBC

Scores of civilians carrying their belongings arrived in government-held areas in northern Syria on Friday amid fears of a potential Syrian army offensive against Kurdish-led fighters east of Aleppo. Many used side roads after the main highway was blocked at a checkpoint previously controlled by the Kurdish-led and U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), AP journalists reported. The Syrian army had announced late Wednesday that civilians could use a "humanitarian corridor" from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, signaling possible plans for an operation against the SDF east of Aleppo. Limited exchanges of fire were reported between the two sides. Men, women, and children arrived in cars and pickup trucks loaded with clothes, mattresses, and other belongings. Local officials guided them to shelters. Some crossed canals by small boats or used a damaged pedestrian bridge to reach government-held areas. Despite the SDF closing the main highway, about 4,000 people managed to reach government-controlled zones via alternative routes, according to Syrian state TV. A U.S. military convoy reached Deir Hafer in the early afternoon, though it was unclear if the personnel would remain. Washington maintains good relations with both sides and has urged calm. Inside Deir Hafer, most shops were closed and residents stayed indoors. Umm Talal, who arrived with her husband and children, said the road appeared safe and her husband planned to return home. Abu Mohammed, coming from Maskana, said SDF fighters had blocked the main highway, forcing people onto side roads. The tensions follow heavy clashes last week in Aleppo, which ended with Kurdish fighters evacuating three northern neighborhoods that were then taken over by government forces. Fighting erupted as talks stalled between Damascus and the SDF over a March agreement for integration of forces and government control of institutions, including border crossings and oil fields in the northeast. U.S. Special Envoy Tom Barrack said on X that Washington is in close contact with all parties, working to "prevent escalation and return to integration talks between the Syrian government and the SDF." The SDF has long been Washington’s main partner in the fight against ISIS, but Turkey considers it a terrorist group due to its links with Kurdish separatists.

A hard-line Iranian cleric leading Friday prayers in Tehran demanded the death penalty for protesters detained during the nationwide unrest and directly threatened U.S. President Donald Trump, highlighting the regime’s growing anger following the demonstrations. Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami’s sermon, broadcast by state radio, sparked chants from the congregation including, “Armed hypocrites should be put to death!” Executions and the killing of protesters had been two of the red lines set by Trump for potential military action against Iran. Khatami also provided the first nationwide figures on damage caused during the protests, which began on Dec. 28 over economic hardship and quickly escalated into a challenge to Iran’s theocratic rule. He claimed 350 mosques, 126 prayer halls, 20 other religious sites, and 80 homes of Friday prayer leaders were damaged. He added that 400 hospitals, 106 ambulances, 71 fire department vehicles, and 50 other emergency vehicles were affected. Appointed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and a member of both the Assembly of Experts and Guardian Council, Khatami described the protesters as “Trump’s soldiers” and “the butlers of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,” warning of “harsh revenge from the system.” Khatami, known for his hard-line stance, previously upheld a fatwa calling for the death of writer Salman Rushdie and threatened Israel in 2018, saying Iran could “raze Tel Aviv and Haifa to the ground.” He also urged the arrest of anyone supporting the rioters in any way. Since Jan. 8, Iran has restricted internet access and intensified its crackdown, with the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reporting at least 2,677 deaths, though the toll has not been independently verified.

Iran closed its airspace to commercial flights for several hours early Thursday without explanation, as tensions with the United States escalated over Tehran’s violent crackdown on nationwide protests. The closure lasted more than four hours, according to pilot notices, affecting a major East-West flight corridor. International airlines rerouted flights north and south of Iran, and after one extension, the airspace reopened, with several domestic flights airborne by around 7 a.m. Iran has previously restricted its airspace during conflicts, including the 12-day war with Israel in June and the Israel-Hamas war. Although there were no immediate signs of hostilities this time, the move disrupted global aviation due to Iran’s strategic location on key flight routes. “Several airlines have already reduced or suspended services, and most carriers are avoiding Iranian airspace,” said SafeAirspace, a website that tracks aviation risks. The site warned that the closure could indicate heightened security or military activity, raising the possibility of missile launches or misidentification of civilian aircraft. The alert recalled Iran’s 2020 downing of Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752, when air defenses misidentified the plane as a threat, killing all 176 passengers. The airspace closure coincided with U.S. precautions in the Gulf, including evacuation advice for personnel at a key U.S. military base in Qatar and a temporary halt on U.S. personnel movements to military installations in Kuwait. The U.N. Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting on Iran at the U.S.’s request. Read more: US labels three Muslim Brotherhood branches as terrorist groups U.S. President Donald Trump gave vague remarks Wednesday, saying he had been told executions in Iran had been halted, without providing further details. Trump had earlier assured Iranian protesters that “help is on the way” and that his administration would act in response to the crackdown. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called for diplomacy over conflict, saying, “Between war and diplomacy, diplomacy is a better way, although we don’t have any positive experience from the United States.” The developments came hours after Iran’s judiciary chief urged swift action against thousands of detainees. Activists warned that executions could occur soon. According to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, at least 2,615 people have died during the protests, marking the deadliest unrest in Iran in decades and evoking memories of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Iranian protesters’ ability to send information about deadly nationwide demonstrations to the outside world has been significantly strengthened after SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service dropped its fees, allowing wider use inside Iran, activists said on Wednesday. The move follows Tehran’s complete shutdown of telecommunications and internet access on January 8, as protests spread across the country over economic hardship and the collapse of the national currency. Although SpaceX has not officially announced the decision, activists told the Associated Press that Starlink service has been available free of charge since Tuesday to anyone in Iran with the necessary equipment. “Starlink has been crucial,” said Mehdi Yahyanejad, an Iranian activist whose nonprofit group Net Freedom Pioneers has helped smuggle Starlink terminals into the country. He pointed to videos that surfaced showing rows of bodies at a forensic center near Tehran. “Those images came out because of Starlink, and they changed how people understand what is happening,” he said. Since protests erupted on December 28, more than 2,500 people — mostly demonstrators but also members of the security forces — have been killed, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency. Starlink is officially banned in Iran, as authorities have never approved the import or use of the devices. Activists fear users could be accused of espionage or aiding hostile states, charges that can carry the death penalty. The first Starlink units were smuggled into Iran in 2022 during protests over the mandatory headscarf law, after the US government exempted the service from sanctions. Since then, an estimated 50,000 units have entered the country, often hidden as solar panels or concealed through other means, activists say. Starlink relies on thousands of low-Earth orbit satellites and requires outdoor antennas, making the devices vulnerable to detection. Iranian authorities have reportedly stepped up efforts to locate and jam Starlink signals, raid homes with satellite equipment and track users through informants and online activity. “There has always been a cat-and-mouse game,” said Ahmad Ahmadian, executive director of the US-based group Holistic Resilience. He said recent government attempts to disrupt Starlink signals were only partially effective and mainly limited to certain urban areas. Iran has recently restored outbound international phone calls, but incoming calls from abroad remain blocked. Activists say the spread of Starlink has made it far harder for authorities to fully isolate the country, unlike during the 2019 protests when information was largely cut off for days. The decision to make the service free could further increase the flow of information from inside Iran. Starlink has previously been offered free during natural disasters and has played a critical role in Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in 2022. However, experts warn that reliance on a single private company for connectivity creates risks. Julia Voo of the International Institute for Strategic Studies said Starlink’s success in bypassing state-imposed blackouts could prompt governments to seek stronger controls over communication systems. “It creates a single point of failure,” she said, adding that other countries are closely watching how the technology is used in Iran.

Iran’s judiciary chief on Wednesday indicated that fast-track trials and executions could soon be carried out against people detained in nationwide protests, defying warnings from US President Donald Trump. Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, head of Iran’s judiciary, made the remarks as rights activists warned that hangings of detainees could begin soon. A violent crackdown by security forces has already left at least 2,571 people dead, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, marking one of the bloodiest episodes of unrest in Iran in decades. Trump has repeatedly warned that Washington could take military action over the killing of protesters, only months after US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites during a brief war launched by Israel in June. On Wednesday, Iranian authorities held a mass funeral for around 100 members of the security forces killed during the unrest, although officials had earlier put the figure at 300. Tens of thousands of mourners attended, waving Iranian flags and holding portraits of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Coffins draped in national flags were stacked in rows and decorated with flowers and photographs of the dead. Despite a heavy security presence easing in some areas, fear remains widespread. Plainclothes security personnel were still seen patrolling neighbourhoods, while riot police and members of the Basij paramilitary force appeared to have returned to their barracks. A mother of two, speaking anonymously for fear of reprisals, said she was terrified by the gunfire and violence. “We hear many have been killed and injured. Now they say calm has returned, but schools are closed and I’m afraid to send my children back,” she said. Ahmadreza Tavakoli, 36, told the Associated Press he witnessed one protest in Tehran and was shocked by the use of live ammunition. “People went out to protest peacefully, but it quickly turned into a war zone,” he said. “The people have no guns. Only the security forces do.” In a video aired by state television, Mohseni-Ejei said any action against detainees must be carried out without delay. “If we want to do something, we have to do it quickly. If it is delayed by months, it won’t have the same effect,” he said. His comments directly challenged Trump, who warned in an interview with CBS that the US would take “very strong action” if Iran went ahead with executions. “We don’t want to see thousands of people killed and then hear about hangings,” Trump said. “That’s not going to work out well for them.” A Gulf Arab diplomat told AP that several Middle Eastern governments were urging the Trump administration not to go to war with Iran, warning of “unprecedented consequences” that could trigger a wider regional conflict. Meanwhile, activists said Starlink had begun offering free satellite internet service in Iran, helping users bypass a nationwide internet shutdown imposed on January 8. Iran has since allowed outgoing international calls, but incoming calls remain blocked. “We can confirm that free Starlink service is working inside Iran,” said Mehdi Yahyanejad, a US-based activist involved in bringing the terminals into the country. Security forces were also reported to be searching for Starlink satellite dishes, with residents in northern Tehran saying authorities were raiding apartment buildings. According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency, 2,403 of those killed were protesters, while 147 were government-affiliated. At least 12 children and nine civilians not involved in protests were also among the dead. More than 18,100 people have been detained. Assessing the full scale of the unrest remains difficult as communications inside Iran continue to be heavily restricted.

Iraq’s caretaker Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has stepped aside from the race for the country’s top post to clear the way for former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, Iraqi officials said Tuesday. Two officials, including a senior leader from al-Sudani’s Reconstruction and Development Coalition and a government official, said al-Sudani agreed to withdraw after talks with al-Maliki. They spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to comment publicly. Al-Sudani’s office did not respond to a request for comment. Al-Sudani’s coalition won the largest number of seats in November’s parliamentary elections, securing 46 in the 329-seat parliament, while al-Maliki’s bloc won 30. Both leaders had sought the backing of the Coordination Framework, a powerful alliance of Iran-backed Shiite parties that brought al-Sudani to power in 2022. The officials said the Coordination Framework failed to choose between the two contenders and left the decision to them. A subsequent meeting resulted in al-Sudani agreeing to step aside in favor of al-Maliki. The next government will face major political and economic challenges, including the future of armed groups, especially the Popular Mobilization Forces, a coalition of mostly Shiite militias formed to fight the Islamic State group. Although formally placed under military control in 2016, the group continues to operate with significant autonomy. The United States has been urging Iraq to disarm Iran-backed groups, a sensitive issue given their political influence. As negotiations over government formation continue, Iraq’s judiciary has entered the debate on non-state weapons. Supreme Judicial Council head Judge Faiq Zidan said earlier this month there was no longer any need for arms outside state control following the defeat of terrorism. Some political forces welcomed his remarks, while armed factions rejected any discussion of disarmament, saying their weapons are necessary to defend the country and its holy sites. A judicial official said the judiciary would support the incoming government by providing legal backing for any disarmament process and has taken a tougher stance on enforcing constitutional deadlines for forming the new government. Political analyst Ihsan Al-Shammari said the judiciary’s role marks one of the strongest interventions since Iraq’s post-2003 political system was established.

The Syrian army on Tuesday declared an area east of Aleppo a “closed military zone,” signaling a possible escalation with Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), officials said. The move follows several days of clashes in Aleppo last week that displaced tens of thousands, ending over the weekend with the evacuation of Kurdish fighters from the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood. Syrian authorities have since accused the SDF of reinforcing positions near Maskana and Deir Hafer, about 60 km east of Aleppo, allegations the SDF denied. In a statement, the SDF said government forces had begun shelling Deir Hafer but reported no casualties. Damascus has not commented. Eastern Aleppo has long been a tense frontline between areas controlled by the Syrian government and SDF-held northeastern regions. The state news agency SANA said the area was declared a closed military zone due to “continued mobilization” by the SDF and its alleged use as a launching point for Iranian-made suicide drones targeting Aleppo. A drone struck the Aleppo governorate building on Saturday, hours after a press briefing by two Cabinet ministers and a local official. The SDF denied responsibility. The army’s Tuesday statement called for armed groups to withdraw east of the Euphrates River. Tensions come amid stalled political talks between Damascus, under interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, and the SDF. A March 2025 agreement planned for the SDF to merge with the Syrian army by year-end, but disagreements remain over implementation. Some factions in the new army, formed after the fall of former President Bashar Assad in December 2024, are former Turkey-backed insurgents with a history of conflict with Kurdish forces. The SDF, a longtime U.S. partner in fighting ISIS, is considered a terrorist group by Turkey due to its links with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Despite U.S. support, Washington has also cultivated ties with al-Sharaa’s government and pushed the Kurds to implement the March deal. Separately, Shams TV, based in Irbil in Iraq’s Kurdish region, postponed a scheduled interview with al-Sharaa for “technical” reasons, without giving a new broadcast date.

Thousands of people are feared dead following a severe crackdown on anti-government protests in Iran, as families abroad receive harrowing reports from those still inside the country. Describing the situation in their first calls home in several days, Iranians have spoken of extensive death and destruction. An Iranian security official has told a news agency that the death toll could be around 2,000 people, including security personnel. Human rights groups have raised alarms over reports that one protester, Erfan Soltani, is due to be executed tomorrow, with some describing the case as unprecedented in its speed. Protests have been ongoing for several weeks. State media claimed that demonstrations had calmed last night, but the BBC has received footage from citizens reporting that protests continued in multiple locations across the country. In response to the crackdown, US President Donald Trump has announced that countries conducting business with Iran could face a 25% tariff on trade with the United States. Officials have told CBS News that the President has been briefed on a range of military and covert options, and his national security team is expected to meet later to discuss potential interventions. Although some Iranians have been able to contact family members abroad, an ongoing internet blackout is hindering the verification of information from inside the country.   Source: Agencies