
Germany: Iran behind violence in Syria's coastal region
Shafaq News/ On Thursday, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock accused Iran of fueling the recent violence in Syria's coastal region, since Tehran-backed elements were allegedly linked to remnants of President Bashar al-Assad's forces involved in the unrest.
Speaking at a press conference after meeting Syria's transitional president, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, Baerbock said, "Iran is one of the key actors violating Syrian sovereignty and is involved in the recent events on the coast."
وزيرة الخارجية الألمانية: إيران أحد الأطراف الأساسية التي تقوم بانتهاك السيادة السورية وهي متورطة بالأحداث الأخيرة في الساحل. #سانا
— الوكالة العربية السورية للأنباء - سانا (@SanaAjel) March 20, 2025
She called on Damascus to 'translate words into action,' urging the government to rein in extremist groups and hold those responsible for crimes accountable.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on March 12 that at least 1,383 civilians—predominantly from the Alawite community—had been killed in the latest wave of violence in Syria's western coastal region.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Shafaq News
an hour ago
- Shafaq News
Iraq's Tawazon Party urges election boycott
Shafaq News/ On Sunday, the Tawazon Party called for a boycott of Iraq's upcoming elections, arguing that the current process no longer offers a genuine chance for change. Speaking to Shafaq News, the group's Secretary-General Manhal Al-Gareer described the elections as 'largely symbolic,' dominated by established political figures who control financial resources and power. This environment, he noted, leaves little space for new national initiatives to compete fairly. He warned that as long as the elections allow powerful actors to purchase influence and recycle familiar faces, meaningful change will remain elusive. Al-Gareer underlined that his call to boycott reflects an effort to reassess priorities and develop a credible political alternative that speaks to the aspirations of Mosul's residents and the broader Iraqi public. Recently founded by academics, intellectuals, and community leaders from Mosul, the Tawazon Party seeks more than parliamentary representation. Its goal, Al-Gareer noted, is to help move governance away from political dependency toward active participation in national decision-making. The Iraqi Cabinet scheduled legislative elections for November 11, 2025. The Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) reported that nearly 29 million Iraqis are eligible to vote.


Shafaq News
an hour ago
- Shafaq News
Leader Barzani: Constitutional principles key to resolving Iraq's crises
Shafaq News/ On Sunday, Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Masoud Barzani urged a return to the principles of partnership, consensus, and balance outlined in Iraq's 2005 constitution, calling them 'essential' to resolving the country's crises. During a meeting with tribal leaders and community figures from Nineveh at the Salahuddin resort in Erbil, Barzani acknowledged 'political tensions ' between the Kurdistan Region and Iraq but emphasized that Kurdish-Arab social ties remain strong. In turn, the delegation praised the Kurdish people for sheltering displaced Iraqis during the ISIS war, commending the Peshmerga's role in liberating Nineveh. They also raised concerns over economic hardship, poor services, and weak political representation, urging a stronger voice for the province in Baghdad.


Shafaq News
2 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Eid al-Adha salary standoff: Kurds criticize Baghdad over unpaid wages
Shafaq News/ Kurdish officials criticized Baghdad's continued suspension of public sector salaries in the Kurdistan Region, as the standoff persists days before Eid al-Adha. During a child development forum, Kurdistan's Minister of Endowments and Religious Affairs, Pshtiwan Sadq, argued the dispute goes beyond payroll delays, accusing Baghdad of undermining constitutional rights. 'This is betrayal and injustice.' Meanwhile, Kurdish MP Mahma Khalil criticized the freeze at a Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)-led event distributing financial aid to Yazidi survivors of ISIS, remarking, 'Iraq supports other nations while neglecting its own citizens.' Their remarks followed a joint statement by 43 Kurdish parties denouncing the Finance Ministry's actions as unconstitutional. The statement came in response to Iraqi MP Raad al-Maliki's claim that the KRG had 'failed' to deliver its oil and non-oil revenues. The rift, rooted in ongoing disputes over oil exports and budget entitlements, deepened after the 2023 shutdown of the Kurdistan pipeline to Turkiye's Ceyhan port. Since then, Erbil has received only monthly advances, not its full budget allocation, fueling mistrust and complicating negotiations. Last week, the KRG Ministry of Finance urged Baghdad to resume payments for employees, pensioners, welfare recipients, and the families of martyrs, accusing federal authorities of using legal pretexts to delay disbursements.