Syria’s army has moved reinforcements to areas east of Aleppo after ordering Kurdish forces to withdraw, following deadly clashes which have killed over 100 and displaced as many as 150,000. The Islamist-led government is seeking to reassert control nationwide, but efforts to integrate the Kurds’ autonomous administration and forces into the state have stalled, despite an agreement reached earlier this year. Kurdish-led forces deny building up troops and accuse the government of launching fresh attacks, while Damascus insists it is responding to provocation. Limited skirmishes and artillery fire have been reported, raising fears of a wider confrontation. In Qamishli, the main Kurdish city in the country's northeast, thousands of people demonstrated, accusing the government of breaking its promises and preparing a broader assault. With mistrust deepening, the situation remains volatile, threatening further suffering for civilians already exhausted by years of conflict. Christians in the region are asking for prayer: see

On 11 July thirty Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) fighters publicly disarmed in Sulaimaniyah, northern Iraq, marking the start of a renewed peace process with Türkiye aimed at ending a forty-year conflict that has claimed around 40,000 lives. Following a call in February by jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan to end armed struggle, senior PKK leaders agreed to political engagement in April. The process may lead to amnesty for fighters and the restoration of political and cultural rights for Kurds within Türkiye. However, analysts warn that the Turkish government’s secrecy around the process raises questions about public support and long-term success. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Iraq has so far remained neutral, though local parties may use the peace process for political gain. Meanwhile, the PKK has incentives to disarm, because it is militarily weaker than it was and is more marginalised. However, if the process fails, violence could return to Iraq’s Qandil Mountains, further destabilising the region and risking renewed conflict between the PKK and Turkish forces.