Iran
According to the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, the Kurdistan Region in Iran has faced a wave of repression following the outbreak of war between Iran and Israel. Over 300 Kurdish individuals have been arrested, including women and teenage girls, with at least one person dying under torture and several others killed by direct fire. Three Kurdish political prisoners were secretly executed on June 25, 2025, without prior notice or the return of their bodies. The crackdown also includes the militarization of public spaces, with military deployments in civilian areas and the use of schools and hospitals for military purposes. Furthermore, the Iranian authorities have increased pressure on conscripted soldiers, threatening them with execution for desertion, and criminalized expressions of dissent, warning against social media posts that could be perceived as supportive of the enemy. Hengaw urges the international community to take immediate action against these ongoing human rights violations in Kurdistan.
Meanwhile, at least 163 individuals were executed in Iranian prisons during May 2025, marking a sharp increase from previous months. The majority of these executions were carried out without prior notice to the families, and many victims were denied final visits and proper burial rights, constituting enforced disappearances. This alarming rise in executions highlights the ongoing human rights violations under the current regime, particularly in the Kurdistan Region, where arbitrary arrests, torture, and extrajudicial killings have intensified amidst the backdrop of the Israel-Iran conflict.
Iraq
Tensions between Iraq’s federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) over public sector salaries have reached new heights, with both legal and political ramifications. The ongoing dispute centers around the federal government’s suspension of salary disbursements to more than 1.2 million public servants in the Kurdistan Region. In late May 2025, Iraq’s Finance Ministry halted all budget transfers to the KRG, citing the region’s exceeding of its allocated 12.67 percent share of the 2025 federal budget. This move has drawn significant backlash from Kurdish political parties, who argue that the suspension is politically motivated and unconstitutional. In response, the KRG sent a formal letter to Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court, urging a ruling in favor of the region’s financial rights.
Adding to the complexity, talks between Erbil and Baghdad on resuming Kurdish oil exports have been progressing, though a key dispute over export volumes remains unresolved. While the federal government insists on 400,000 barrels per day (bpd), the KRG has proposed an initial figure of 280,000 bpd. This dispute is critical, as it directly affects the ongoing salary crisis. Sources from both sides have confirmed to Rudaw that recent talks, held in a “calmer atmosphere,” have made some progress but have not yet yielded a final agreement. Both sides view resolving the oil issue as essential to resuming salary payments and addressing the broader financial challenges in the region.
The legal battle over salaries has intensified, especially after the resignation of nine members of the Federal Supreme Court, ahead of a planned session on the salary crisis. With the resignations throwing the session into uncertainty, the dispute remains unresolved. Kurdistan’s Prime Minister Masrour Barzani has repeatedly stated that the KRG has fulfilled its constitutional obligations and is hopeful that Iraq’s judicial authorities will rule in favor of the Kurdistan people. As the dispute continues, both political leaders and citizens in the Kurdistan Region are calling for a fair and timely resolution to avoid further destabilizing the region.
A series of drone incidents have heightened security concerns in the Kurdistan Region amid the Israel-Iran conflict. Kurdish counterterrorism forces downed a suicide drone near Sherawa village, south of Erbil, though it caused no damage or casualties. This follows multiple suspected drones intercepted in the region. The Kurdistan Region Presidency has called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, emphasizing the need for stability, as the region continues to be impacted by the ongoing tensions.
In response, the KRG’s Ministry of Interior issued a warning to media outlets and social media users, urging them not to spread unverified or biased information that could disrupt social security and cause unnecessary panic. This comes after several suspected drone incidents, including a crash near Koya district, though no casualties were reported, and the origin of the drone remains unclear. The region has also seen an increase in drone crashes and missile fragments, some sparking fires, like the one in Sulaimani province.
Additionally, a suspected Iranian drone crashed in the Makhmour district of Nineveh province, causing no explosions. With the region’s proximity to both Israeli targets and Iranian military operations, authorities are on high alert. Investigations into the origins of these drones are ongoing, while the KRG remains committed to being a stabilizing force in the face of growing regional instability.
Syria
A suicide bombing at the Mar Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Dweila, Damascus, on June 22, 2025, killed 25 people and injured 63 during evening Mass. The Syrian Interior Ministry initially claimed the two suicide bombers were non-Syrian nationals who had come from the al-Hol Camp in northeastern Syria. However, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) quickly refuted this claim, stating that it was based on incorrect information.
In a statement issued on June 25, 2025, the SDF clarified that al-Hol Camp primarily houses the families of ISIS members, mostly women and children, and does not contain foreign terrorist fighters. The SDF conducted an investigation into the records of al-Hol Camp residents, confirming that only Syrian nationals had exited the camp recently, at the request of the Damascus Government. The claim that non-Syrian nationals were responsible for the attack is thus false, the SDF emphasized.
Mazloum Abdi, the General Commander of the SDF, condemned the attack as a “cowardly act” and reaffirmed the SDF’s ongoing commitment to combating terrorism in coordination with the International Coalition. He called on the Damascus Government to conduct a transparent and credible investigation into the attack and release its findings publicly to prevent further violence. The SDF has consistently worked to stabilize the region and protect all religious communities from such acts of terror.
Turkey
Members of the İmralı Delegation from the Democratic Peoples’ Party (DEM), Pervin Buldan and Mithat Sancar, visited Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş on June 26, 2025, to discuss the progress of the peace process and share their perspectives on ongoing developments. Following the meeting, both Buldan and Sancar held a press briefing, where they discussed key issues such as the peace process, the proposed parliamentary commission, and the recent Kobani Case ruling.
Buldan stated that the peace process had entered a new phase and emphasized the importance of dialogue between political parties and relevant figures, including a visit to Imralı to meet with Abdullah Öcalan. The delegation plans to continue their consultations, stating that meetings with figures like President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Nationalist Movement Party leader Devlet Bahçeli, and Republican People’s Party leader Özgür Özel will take place soon. Buldan stressed that the process must progress on a parliamentary and dialogue-based platform for it to advance positively.
Sancar further elaborated on the significance of involving the parliament in the peace process, highlighting the need for a commission to be established to ensure social participation, legitimacy, and progress. He stressed that Parliament’s intervention would provide legal and social assurance for the peace process, and the establishment of the commission is expected to take place soon, with input from all political parties. Regarding the Kobani Case, Buldan condemned the ruling, calling for the immediate release of detained individuals, including Figen Yüksekdağ and Selahattin Demirtaş, and claimed the case had collapsed due to the lack of tangible evidence.
The visit to Kurtulmuş and the discussions around the commission and the peace process indicate a commitment to addressing longstanding issues through dialogue, as the DEM Party continues to push for a more inclusive and transparent resolution. The delegation’s efforts aim to build consensus among political parties, with the parliamentary commission seen as a critical step toward achieving lasting peace and justice.
Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on June 26, 2025, announced that he would meet with the DEM Party delegation as part of the peace initiative, further signaling his government’s willingness to engage in peace talks.