Masrour Barzani warns against targeting Kurds in Aleppo violence
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani strongly condemned on Thursday the latest wave of violence in Aleppo, warning that the targeting of Kurdish residents raises serious concerns about the authorities in Damascus and the conscience of the international community.
In a statement released by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Barzani said that “the events in Aleppo and the targeting of Kurds, aimed at changing the region’s demographics and threatening civilians’ lives, call into question both the authorities in Damascus and the conscience of the international community.”
He stressed that attacks on the Kurdish-populated neighborhoods have caused deep concern, emphasizing that “war and violence offer no fundamental solution to any problem,” and that “no justification or pretext should allow ethnic cleansing.”
Barzani urged all parties to take responsibility, protect civilians, and resort to dialogue as the only viable path to resolving disputes.
He also expressed hope that Syria’s current governance would evolve into a democratic and inclusive system accountable to all Syrians.
The statement comes as the forces of the Syrian transitional government resumed attacks on the Kurdish neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh in Aleppo, as tensions with the Kurdish Internal Security Forces (Asayish) entered their third day.
Barzani’s remarks came a day after Kurdistan Democratic Party leader and former Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani issued a similar warning, expressing grave concern over the situation in Aleppo.
In a statement on Wednesday, Barzani said the ongoing fighting posed a “serious threat” to civilian lives and warned of the risk of “ethnic cleansing against Kurds” in the city.
He urged the Syrian transitional government not to turn political disputes into ethnic conflict, cautioning against policies that could lead to pressure, displacement from ancestral lands, or violations targeting Kurdish civilians in Aleppo.
The humanitarian toll from renewed hostilities in Aleppo’s Kurdish neighborhoods has steadily climbed amid heavy shelling and fighting.
The SDF and Asayish have said that at least eight civilians have been killed and 52 others wounded in bombardment by factions affiliated with the Damascus government in Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh since the escalation began on Jan. 6, 2026.
More than 80 tanks and heavy military vehicles have been deployed around the besieged districts, while access to essential goods remains severely restricted and civilians face acute shortages of food, medical supplies, and shelter amid mounting displacement.