RIYADH,— Saudi fighter jets struck targets tied to Tehran-backed Shi’ite militias in Iraq during the war with Iran, while retaliatory attacks were also launched from Kuwait into Iraq, several sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The military actions formed part of a wider campaign across the Gulf that remained out of public view during a conflict that started with U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran and later spread across the Middle East.

Reuters spoke with three Iraqi military and security officials, one Western official and two people briefed on the developments, including one source in the United States.

The Saudi attacks were carried out by Saudi air force jets against militia positions linked to Iran near Saudi Arabia’s northern border with Iraq, according to the Western official and one person briefed on the matter.

The Western official said some attacks took place around the April 7 ceasefire between the United States and Iran.

The strikes targeted locations used to launch drones and missiles toward Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries, the sources said.

Iraqi sources, citing military assessments, said rocket attacks were launched at least twice from Kuwaiti territory into Iraq.

One series of attacks struck militia positions in southern Iraq in April.

Several fighters were killed and a facility used by the Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah militia for communications and drone operations was destroyed, the Iraqi sources said.

Reuters could not confirm whether the rockets fired from Kuwait were launched by Kuwaiti forces or the U.S. military.

The U.S. military declined to comment. Kuwait’s information ministry and the Iraqi government did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

A Saudi foreign ministry official said Riyadh favored de-escalation, restraint and reduced tensions to maintain regional security and stability, but did not specifically address the reported attacks inside Iraq.

A spokesperson for Iraq’s Kataib Hezbollah did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Reuters reported Tuesday that Saudi Arabia also launched strikes inside Iran during the conflict in response to attacks on the kingdom.

It was the first known case of Riyadh striking Iranian territory. Three people familiar with the matter also said the United Arab Emirates carried out similar attacks inside Iran.

Telegram channels linked to militias published statements during the war claiming responsibility for attacks on targets in Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

Continuous attacks from Iraq pushed Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to take a harder position against the militias, which command large numbers of fighters and maintain missile and drone arsenals.

Kuwait summoned Iraq’s representative three times during the conflict to protest attacks crossing the border and the storming of the Kuwaiti consulate in Basra on April 7. Saudi Arabia also summoned Iraq’s ambassador on April 12 to protest attacks.

Relations between Iraq and Gulf Arab states have long been marked by distrust. Tensions worsened in 1990 after Iraqi President Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait and fired Scud missiles toward Saudi Arabia.

The U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 increased concerns among Gulf states by strengthening Shi’ite political groups and armed factions linked to Tehran, turning Iraq into an important part of Iran’s regional network.

Gulf governments have repeatedly accused Baghdad of failing to control armed groups, which operate with broad independence and have carried out attacks across borders.

A diplomatic agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia brokered by China in 2023 raised hopes for regional stability.

The outbreak of war, however, placed pressure on those efforts and drew Gulf countries deeper into a conflict they had tried to avoid.

Two Iraqi security officials and a government security adviser said Saudi Arabia and Kuwait warned Baghdad through diplomatic channels in March to stop rocket and drone attacks carried out by pro-Iranian groups against Gulf states.

Iraqi forces said they intercepted planned attacks, including the seizure of a rocket launcher west of Basra intended to target Saudi energy facilities.

Four Iraqi security sources and one person briefed on the developments said Iran-backed militias continue flying surveillance drones along Iraq’s borders with Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, collecting intelligence for Iran.

“They are gathering information on what has been damaged and what remains operational. They are preparing for another strike soon,” the person briefed on the matter said.

(With files from Reuters)

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RIYADH,—Saudi Arabia ordered Iran’s military attache, his assistant and three embassy staff members to leave the kingdom within 24 hours, the Saudi foreign ministry said on Saturday, citing what it described as continued Iranian attacks on Saudi territory.

The officials were declared persona non grata, the ministry added. Saudi Arabia has faced hundreds of Iranian missiles and drones since the start of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, with most intercepted, authorities said.

In a statement, the ministry said continued Iranian strikes could escalate tensions and bring significant consequences for current and future relations.

On Wednesday, the Saudi foreign minister said the kingdom could take military action against Iran and said trust with Tehran had been shattered after recent attacks.

Saudi Arabia and Iran restored diplomatic ties in 2023 to ease years of tension and rivalry across the region.

The U.S.-Israeli war and Iran’s attacks on Gulf neighbors have disrupted oil and gas exports and forced production stoppages in the Middle East.

Energy markets have been affected, with supply flows reduced and facilities halted, officials said, highlighting broader economic risks linked to the conflict and ongoing hostilities in the region today.

(With files from Reuters)

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LONDON,— Global air travel continues to face major disruption after the war in Iran forced the shutdown of key Middle Eastern aviation hubs, including Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi.

The closures have left tens of thousands of travelers stranded and forced airlines worldwide to cancel or reduce services.

Airlines across Europe, Asia and North America have adjusted schedules, suspended routes and extended cancellations as the situation affects major flight corridors.

Greece’s Aegean Airlines said it had cancelled flights to Tel Aviv, Beirut and Amman until April 22. Services to Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, and Baghdad remain suspended until May 24. Flights to Dubai are cancelled until April 19 and to Riyadh until April 18.

Latvia’s airBaltic reported that all flights to Tel Aviv are cancelled until April 5, while services to Dubai are suspended until October 24.

Air Canada said it had halted all flights to Tel Aviv until May 2 and cancelled flights to Dubai until March 28.

Spain’s Air Europa confirmed cancellations of all flights to Tel Aviv until April 10.

Air France said flights to Tel Aviv and Beirut are cancelled until March 21. The airline also suspended routes to Dubai and Riyadh until March 20. KLM, part of the same group, said it had suspended flights to Riyadh, Dammam and Dubai until March 28, and to Tel Aviv until April 11.

Hong Kong based Cathay Pacific cancelled all passenger flights to and from Dubai and Riyadh, along with cargo freighter services to those cities, until April 30.

Delta Air Lines said it had cancelled flights between New York and Tel Aviv until March 31, and return flights until April 1. The airline also delayed the restart of its Atlanta to Tel Aviv service. Flights to Tel Aviv are now paused until August 4, with return flights suspended until August 5.

El Al Israel Airlines said regular flight operations were cancelled until March 21.

Emirates said it is operating a reduced schedule after a partial reopening of regional airspace. Etihad Airways also reported a limited commercial schedule between Abu Dhabi and several key destinations.

Finnair cancelled flights to Dubai until March 29 and to Doha until April 2. The airline said it continues to avoid airspace over Iraq, Iran, Syria and Israel.

Saudi budget carrier Flynas extended its suspension of flights to several destinations including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Doha, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq and Syria until March 31.

International Airlines Group, which owns British Airways, extended cancellations of flights to Amman, Bahrain, Dubai and Tel Aviv until May 31. Flights to Doha are cancelled until April 30. The group also added flights to Bangkok and Singapore, while services to Abu Dhabi remain suspended until later in the year.

India’s IndiGo said it had suspended operations to Doha, Kuwait, Bahrain, Dammam, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah until March 28.

Japan Airlines said it had halted Tokyo to Doha flights until March 31 and return flights until April 1.

Poland’s LOT said flights to Dubai are cancelled until March 28 and to Tel Aviv until April 18. Flights to Riyadh are suspended until March 24, while services to Beirut are cancelled from March 31 through April 30.

Germany’s Lufthansa Group, which includes Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Swiss, Brussels Airlines and ITA Airways, said it had suspended flights to Tel Aviv until April 9. Flights to Beirut, Dubai, Amman, Erbil, Dammam and Abu Dhabi are cancelled until March 28. Services to Tehran are suspended until April 30 and to Riyadh until April 5 for operational reasons.

Malaysia Airlines said it had suspended all flights to Doha until March 28.

Norwegian Air said it plans to begin flights to Tel Aviv and Beirut from June 15, later than previously scheduled dates in early April.

Turkey’s Pegasus Airlines cancelled flights to Iran, Iraq, Amman, Beirut, Kuwait, Bahrain, Doha, Dammam, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah until April 12. Flights to Riyadh are cancelled until March 23.

Qatar Airways said it would operate a revised and limited schedule between March 18 and March 28.

Turkey’s transport ministry said Turkish Airlines had cancelled flights to Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Bahrain and Dammam until March 19. Flights to Iran are cancelled until March 20.

Wizz Air said it had suspended flights to Israel until March 29. Services to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Amman and Jeddah from mainland Europe are cancelled until mid September.

(With files from Reuters)

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DUBAI,— Iranian airstrikes on Gulf states could push them into a wider coalition with the United States and expand the conflict with Iran, analysts said, after missiles and drones struck ports, cities and oil facilities in a key energy region.

The attacks targeted six Gulf states that are U.S. allies and host American military bases.

Analysts said Iran aimed to pressure those governments to convince U.S. President Donald Trump to halt the war. Instead, the strikes may have drawn the Gulf states closer to Washington and increased the chance of coordinated action against Tehran.

Abdulaziz Sager, chairman of the Saudi based Gulf Research Center think tank, told Reuters Gulf governments now face difficult choices.

They can openly support the U.S. military campaign by allowing their airspace and territory to be used and possibly joining operations. Or they can try to stay out and risk further attacks on their own soil.

Neutrality became less realistic once Iranian missiles began landing, he said. Countries that had sought to balance relations were forced to align more clearly with Washington and prepare to defend their territory and interests.

Iran launched the missile barrages after Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed on Saturday, the first day of U.S. and Israeli military strikes.

Trump said those actions aimed to remove a security threat to the United States and prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

The Gulf Cooperation Council, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman, held an emergency ministerial meeting on Sunday.

The bloc invoked Article 51 of the U.N. Charter, set red lines and signaled readiness for collective self defense as energy disruptions and security risks grew.

The GCC said Iran’s attacks strengthened unity among member states and warned that continued strikes could turn the Gulf from a defensive shield into an active theater of response. Joint air defense systems were activated and reconnaissance flights increased across regional airspace.

Analysts said leaders face a stark choice. Responding could risk a wider war. Holding back could weaken security, hurt economic stability and reduce international credibility under repeated attacks.

Gulf officials said warnings were sent to Tehran directly and indirectly, noting that further strikes would carry heavier consequences.

A Gulf source said governments are likely to wait as long as possible before escalating. He said U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran are ongoing. It is unclear who directs events inside Iran.

Attacks on oil facilities may have been centrally ordered or carried out by rogue units. Two possibilities are emerging: command may have fractured, or decisions may remain coordinated at the highest level.

The conflict’s risks extend beyond the Gulf. Oil exports, shipping lanes and energy infrastructure face threats. A major global energy corridor could be disrupted, affecting international trade and markets.

Energy markets face one of their most serious shocks in decades. Missile threats forced shutdowns at some Gulf facilities, including Qatar’s liquefied natural gas sites, which account for roughly 20 percent of global supply.

Ebtesam Al Ketbi, president of the Emirates Policy Center, told Reuters that if strikes continue and Gulf states cannot withstand a prolonged conflict, disruption to oil shipping or closure of the Strait of Hormuz could prompt other countries to intervene.

Mohammed Baharoon, director general of the Dubai Public Policy Research Center, said the UAE describing the strikes as terrorism strengthens the case for broadening the coalition against Iran.

He said Tehran is pushing Gulf states into an expanding alliance, increasing the risk of wider conflict.

Strikes on Western linked facilities, including a British base in Cyprus and sites hosting French forces in Abu Dhabi, raise the possibility that NATO could eventually be involved.

The UAE has been the main target. Officials said 63 percent of strikes hit airports, ports and oil infrastructure. In the first 48 hours, an estimated 165 ballistic and cruise missiles and 600 drones were launched.

Missiles that struck Doha, Dubai and Manama also affected the Gulf’s image as financial, investment and tourism centers. The attacks hurt its reputation as a stable and secure location.

While the UAE seeks to avoid full-scale war, it has taken diplomatic steps. It summoned Iran’s ambassador, withdrew its own envoy, closed its embassy in Tehran and raised the issue at the U.N. Security Council.

Gulf officials said Iran’s large-scale missile and drone use has altered the diplomatic landscape.

They said Tehran’s actions make future U.S. negotiations on Iran’s missile program harder to separate from nuclear activities, a view now shared by Sunni Gulf Arab states and Western governments.

(With files from Reuters)

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WASHINGTON,— The U.S. Department of State on Monday instructed American citizens to leave more than a dozen Middle Eastern countries immediately as military strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran intensified tensions across the region.

Mora Namdar, assistant secretary for consular affairs at the State Department, said Americans in the affected countries should depart using commercial transportation that remains available.

She cited safety risks as the reason for the directive.

The department recently revised its travel advisories for multiple countries in the region, advising against travel. The latest guidance applies to Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

Earlier Monday, the U.S. Embassy in Amman announced that embassy personnel had left the facility because of what it described as a threat. No additional information about the threat was released.

A U.S. official said the State Department has formed an inter agency emergency task force to address the developing situation and coordinate the United States response to the conflict.

On Saturday, U.S. and Israeli forces carried out extensive strikes on various sites in Iran. The operation resulted in the deaths of several senior Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iranian authorities responded by launching strikes against multiple U.S. and Israeli targets across the region.

President Donald Trump said Monday that the fighting had been projected to last between four and five weeks, but he noted the timeline could extend beyond that estimate.

The conflict has expanded into a broader regional war and has caused numerous deaths. Oil markets reacted after Iranian officials warned they could target ships attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, an important route for global oil shipments.

The warning contributed to rising energy prices.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Energy Secretary Chris Wright are expected to announce measures Tuesday aimed at reducing the impact of higher energy costs, Marco Rubio said. Rubio spoke ahead of a briefing with congressional leaders regarding the recent strikes.

“We anticipated this could be an issue, and Secretary Wright and Bessent will begin to roll out those steps, starting tomorrow, to mitigate, to mitigate against the impact that could have,” Rubio said.

Officials said the situation continues to be closely monitored as developments unfold across the region.

(With files from Reuters)

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DUBAI,— Iran has carried out missile attacks on several Arab countries hosting U.S. troops, following a series of strikes by American forces in Iran.

Tens of thousands of U.S. military personnel are stationed across the Middle East, under the command of the U.S. Central Command, or CENTCOM.

Here is a breakdown of major U.S. bases in the region and reported Iranian attacks.

Bahrain
Bahrain hosts Naval Support Activity Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet and the headquarters of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command. The base sits at a deep-water port capable of accommodating the largest U.S. warships, including aircraft carriers. The U.S. Navy has used the facility since 1948, originally operated by Britain’s Royal Navy. Several American ships are stationed in Bahrain, including anti-mine vessels and logistical support ships. Bahrain’s authorities said that the Fifth Fleet’s service center was hit by an Iranian missile on Saturday.

Iraq
U.S. forces operate in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region as part of the international coalition against the Islamic State group. Their mission is scheduled to end by September, under an agreement between Washington and Baghdad. American troops have withdrawn from several facilities in federal Iraq, which maintains close ties with Iran but also partners strategically with the U.S. AFP journalists reported explosions near the U.S. consulate in Erbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, on Saturday. The pro-Iran Kataeb Hezbollah group warned of further attacks on U.S. bases. Kurdish security forces said the coalition intercepted multiple drones and missiles over Erbil.

Jordan
The U.S. deployed dozens of military aircraft to Jordan’s Muwaffaq Salti Air Base ahead of its strikes on Iran. A Jordanian military official said that two ballistic missiles were shot down over Jordan on Saturday, without specifying the attacker. Jordan’s Public Security Directorate later reported “no casualties, only material damage.”

Kuwait
Kuwait hosts several U.S. bases, including Camp Arifjan, which serves as the forward headquarters for the U.S. Army’s CENTCOM component. The base stores equipment and supplies for U.S. forces in the region. Ali al-Salem Air Base is home to the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, described by the U.S. military as a primary hub for airlift and combat operations support. Kuwait also hosts MQ-9 Reaper drones. Kuwait’s defense ministry said its forces intercepted missiles targeting Ali al-Salem on Saturday. Italy’s foreign minister added that an Iranian attack caused significant damage to the base’s runway, which also houses Italian air force personnel.

Qatar
Al Udeid Air Base hosts forward components of CENTCOM, including air forces and special operations units. The 379th Air Expeditionary Wing operates there, providing airlift, refueling, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and medical evacuation capabilities. Iran previously targeted Al Udeid with missiles last June after U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. On Saturday, Qatar reported another Iranian missile attack.

Syria

U.S. forces have maintained a presence in Syria for years to fight the Islamic State group, which emerged during the country’s civil war. American troops are now withdrawing from Syria, with sources telling AFP that the exit could be completed within a month. Syrian state media reported that an Iranian missile strike on southern Syria on Saturday killed four people.

United Arab Emirates
Al Dhafra Air Base hosts the U.S. 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, which includes 10 aircraft squadrons and MQ-9 Reaper drones. The base also serves as a center for advanced air warfare training. The UAE said it intercepted two Iranian missiles on Saturday. Debris from the first wave killed one civilian in Abu Dhabi.

These developments highlight the concentration of U.S. forces in the Gulf and the broader Middle East, which Iran has targeted with missiles following recent American military operations.

(With files from AFP)

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How a Few Missiles Could End Dubai’s Golden Era

The post Iran strikes Arab countries in retaliation for US attacks appeared first on iKurd News.

Serwan Zangana | Exclusive to iKurd.net

The U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, expressed a view that was perceived as dangerous by many Arab and Muslim nations in the region, after he was asked in an interview with the host, Tucker Carlson, about the right of Israel to the Middle East.

As Carlson cited to Ambassador Huckabee that in Genesis 15, God sent a message to Abraham that his descendants will inherit the land from the Nile to the Euphrates River, which is much of the Middle East, however, Carlson asked Ambassador Huckabee if Israel had biblical rights to this land, which would include the entire region of the Middle East.

In response, Ambassador Huckabee said, “It would be fine if they took it all. But I don’t think that’s what we’re talking about here today.” Obviously, the majority of U.S. politicians, including Ambassador Huckabee, believe in the ideological connection between Christianity and Judaism, with Israel being the follower of the biblical rules in retrieving Jews’ land. This ideological belief has been embraced by American evangelicals and most of the other Christian denominations in the U.S.

Huckabee’s response to Carlson was condemned by the nations in the region, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Indonesia, and Pakistan. The leaders and officials of these nations said that Ambassador Huckabee’s statement was “Dangerous and inflammatory remarks,…and pose a grave threat to the security and stability of the region.”

The religious mindset of the American right-wing politicians, including Ambassador Huckabee, has been nurtured since Donald Trump’s victory in the White House. Generally, right-wing groups and individuals in the U.S. are embracing the religion of Christianity, and in fact, they perceive both Christianity and Judaism as one and Israel as the promised land of the Jews, according to some verses of the Bible.

Recently, conservatives and individuals from the right wing, including Tucker Carlson and former U.S. Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, distanced themselves from the extreme rhetoric and harsh language of prominent figures and politicians, including President Trump, and criticized the U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.

Apparently, President Trump’s rhetoric, perhaps inadvertently, has incited his supporters in some circumstances to act violently, and further, such rhetoric became a source and citation for the right wing to be reviewed and followed by the public.

Obviously, Ambassador Huckabee’s comment on Israel ruling the Middle East emerged from his long-standing relationship with Israel. The wave of Christian politics in the U.S. is actively striving to further influence American society and implement Christian principles.

However, as the Arab and Muslim nations condemned Ambassador Huckabee and accused him of being an extremist and his remark, as the Saudi Arabian Foreign Ministry described it, an “extremist rhetoric”, the same Arab and Muslim nations ignored condemning Syria’s radical President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Turkey’s extremist Recep Tayyip Erdogan for abridging the political rights of the Kurds and killing innocent Kurdish civilians in Syria.

The Arab League, which is composed of 22 countries, including Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Egypt, Djibouti, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Syria, Tunisia, and the United Arab Emirates, unanimously condemned Ambassador Huckabee and stated that the comment, “violated all the basic principles and established norms of diplomacy, as well as defying logic and reason.”

The American Evangelical Christians see today’s modern state of Israel, which was established in 1948, as biblical, and thus, the victory of the Jewish nation is guaranteed by God. Apparently, 82% of the White Evangelicals in America believe that Israel was given to the Jewish people by God. (Chicago Council on Global Affairs) Therefore, Ambassador Huckabee did not cross his line as he expressed his view to Carlson in embracing Christian Zionist beliefs.

However, with the Arab and Muslim nations’ condemnation of Ambassador Huckabee’s remark, Oman also said, “Threatened the prospects for peace.” But the questions that emerge are: Are the Christian Zionists posing a greater threat to the region or the radical Arab Muslims and Erdogan’s regime? What is the definition of peace in their perspective?

The radical Muslim and the Arab chauvinism have been a great threat to peace and stability in the region, and in the name of Islam, they impose the concept of Ummah, which means a unified community that shares the belief of Islam. The Arab nations are indeed applying such a concept to their society and clearly disregard other religions and ethnicities.

The attack on the Yazidi religious community in the Sinjar region of Iraqi Kurdistan and the sweep of their villages in 2014, by the Islamic State (ISIS), and the murder and kidnapping of nearly 12,000 Yazidis did not spark outrage or condemnation by the Arab Muslim nations.

The massacre of the Yazidis was condemned and classified as a genocide by many organizations and the Western countries, including the United Nations (UN), the European Parliament, the British Parliament, the Australian Parliament, the Canadian Parliament, the United States Congress, and the National Assembly of Armenia.

Obviously, the Arab and the Muslim nations, including Turkey, refrained from condemning or mentioning the atrocity perpetrated by (ISIS) against the Yazidis. In fact, in 2021, Iraq was the only country in the region to condemn the genocide of the Yazidis.

The Iraqi Parliament passed the “Yazidi Female Survivors” Bill, which classified the (ISIS) action against the Yazidis to be a genocide and provides assistance to the survivors. However, along with the Yazidis, the Bill does include Christians, Shabaks, and Turkmen as victims of genocide and crimes if attacks are perpetrated against them.

However, evaluating allies or enemies should be determined based on their views regarding the Kurdish ethnic and political identity, and in fact, the majority of the Arab Muslim nationals are in an opposing position regarding the Kurdish political identity in an independent land or an autonomous region. The simplest example is the Kurds in northeast Syria (Rojava) with an ongoing opposition against their legitimate rights to autonomy.

The issue is not only contained in one country of the region, but every Arab country believes that the independence of the Kurds is a threat per se. For example, the referendum of 2017, in which the Kurds voted for the independence of the Kurdistan region in Northern Iraq, sparked an outrage as the majority of the Arab Muslims promptly expressed their opposition to the idea of the referendum.

“Kurdish independence would be a poisoned sword against the Arabs,” Saeb Erekat, an adviser to the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said.

In contrast, Israel was supportive of the referendum as the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, ”Israel supports the legitimate efforts of the Kurdish people to achieve their own state.”

Mainly, the Arab Muslim leaders are becoming itchy to hear the idea of Kurdish independence and self-governing, as they embrace a chauvinistic and Islamic ideology, which is the tool they use to continue their domination in the region.

Now, the question is: Who poses a greater threat to the Kurds and the region, radical Arab Muslims or Israel? As history witnesses the heinous acts that have been committed against the Kurds by the Arab regimes and Islamic militias and groups, they are indeed the dire threat, not Israel.

Serwan Zangana, a contributing writer for iKurd.net, lives in Virginia, U.S. He serves as a correction officer.

The views expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of iKurd.net or its editorial team.

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Arab Republics? A Modern Identity Hoax

If a country’s name includes ‘Arab,’ it signals that it is not truly an Arab country.

Sara Hussein | Exclusive to iKurd.net

Across the Middle East and North Africa, several countries formally embed “Arab” into their constitutional titles: the Syrian Arab Republic, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and historically Libya (which previously incorporated “Arab” in its official name like Libyan Arab Republic, Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya). Even Saudi Arabia embeds Arab identity directly in the word “Arabia.”

Yet these states are not ethnically homogeneous. Their lands were not historically Arab in origin. Their major cities are often not originally Arabic in name. In several cases, even their demographic realities contradict the ethnic label.

The inclusion of “Arab” in official state titles is not a neutral geographic description. It is a political artifact — a 20th-century nationalist construction that institutionalizes one identity above others.

The Historical Homeland of Arab Tribes

Historically, Arab tribes originated in the Arabian Peninsula , particularly in what is today Saudi Arabia and surrounding Gulf regions. Classical Arab genealogical and linguistic traditions trace early Arab tribal formations to the Peninsula, where Arabic developed as a Semitic language among tribal societies long before the Islamic period. The Arabian Peninsula was therefore the historical core of early Arab tribal identity.

The Levant, Mesopotamia, and North Africa were not originally Arab lands in an ethnic or civilizational sense. They became Arabic-speaking over centuries through conquest, administration, trade, intermarriage, and religious transformation — not because their original populations were ethnically Arab.

Ancient Civilizations Preceded Arab Rule

Long before the 7th-century Arab-Islamic expansions, the regions now labeled as “Arab” states were home to some of the world’s oldest civilizations:

• Syria: Arameans, Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans
• Iraq: Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, Assyrians
• Egypt: Pharaonic civilization stretching back over 5,000 years
• Libya and North Africa: Amazigh (Berber), Greek, Roman cultures
• The Gulf region: Persian, Mesopotamian, and tribal trade networks

Even today, most major city names across these countries are not originally Arabic:

• Syria: Damascus (Aramaic), Aleppo, Homs (Emesa), Latakia (Laodicea, Greek)…
• Iraq: Baghdad, Basra, Mosul, Nineveh (Assyrian and Akkadian origins)
• Egypt: Alexandria (Greek), Luxor/Thebes (Egyptian)
• Jordan: Amman (Rabbath Ammon), Petra (Nabataean)
• Libya: Tripoli, Benghazi (Greek, Phoenician)
• Saudi Arabia: Mecca, Yathrib,… names rooted in pre-Islamic and regional histories from Aramaic-Syriac origins.

These names survived because they were deeply rooted long before Arab political dominance. Arab identity was layered onto pre-existing civilizations rather than replacing them entirely.

Speaking Arabic Does Not Automatically Mean Ethnically Arab

A critical distinction is often overlooked: speaking Arabic does not automatically make a population ethnically Arab in origin.

People in Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Libya, Tunisia, Morocco, and across North Africa are primarily Arabic-speaking today. But many descend from ancient Mesopotamian, Pharaonic, Amazigh, Levantine, and other indigenous populations. They were culturally and linguistically Arabized over centuries.

Latin America and Spanish Language

The same principle can be seen in Latin America. Spanish is an official language in 20 countries, including Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Cuba, and others.

Yet speaking Spanish does not make the population ethnically Spanish. They are primarily indigenous, mestizo, or mixed populations who adopted Spanish through colonial history. They are Spanish-speaking, not Spanish.

Similarly, many populations across the Middle East and North Africa are Arabic-speaking, but that does not make them ethnically Arab.

African Countries and Official Colonial Languages

The same principle applies to African countries with French or English as official languages. French is an official language in 29 African countries, and English is official in many others. This does not mean that people in Mali, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Kenya, or Nigeria are French or English ethnically. They are local populations who speak the language due to historical colonization.

Notice the contrast: no African country officially calls itself the “French Republic of Mali” or the “English Republic of Kenya.” Yet in the Middle East and North Africa, many countries call themselves “Arab Republic of…” or “Arab Kingdom,” even when the majority of the population is not ethnically Arab. This highlights the political, not demographic, motivation for using “Arab” in official state names.

Arabization Was Cultural — Not Total Ethnic Replacement

Following the 7th-century expansions, Arabic became the administrative and religious language of expanding Islamic empires. Over centuries:

• Aramaic declined in the Levant
• Coptic declined in Egypt
• Indigenous North African languages were marginalized
• Administrative systems adopted Arabic

However, linguistic Arabization did not mean that entire populations were replaced. Societies remained multi-ethnic:

• Kurds in Syria and Iraq (Kurdistan)
• Assyrians and Chaldeans in Mesopotamia
• Copts in Egypt
• Amazigh in Libya, Tunisia, Morocco, and Algeria
• Druze, Alawites, Armenians, Yazidis

Modern states labeled “Arab” are in reality multi-ethnic societies with layered identities.

The 20th-Century Nationalist Project

The embedding of “Arab” into official country names was largely a 20th-century political decision influenced by Pan-Arabism after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire.

Arab nationalism served several purposes:

1. Unifying fragmented territories after colonial rule
2. Creating regional solidarity
3. Strengthening centralized state authority
4. Suppressing separatist or minority movements

This was not an ancient naming tradition. It was modern state-building.

The UAE: A Demographic Contrast

The United Arab Emirates illustrates how symbolic the label can be.

2025 estimates:

• Total population: ~11.3 million
• Emirati nationals: ~1.3 million (~11.5%)
• Foreign residents: ~10 million+ (~88.5%)

English dominates commerce. Hindi, Urdu, Tagalog, and other languages shape daily life. The economy depends heavily on expatriate labor.

The majority of residents are not ethnically Arab nationals. Yet the state name emphasizes “Arab” identity, reflecting the heritage of ruling families rather than the demographic composition of the country.

Structural Problems With Ethnic State Naming

1. It Marginalizes Minorities

Constitutionally embedding one ethnic identity can symbolically exclude others.

2. It Misrepresents History

These lands were not originally Arab in civilizational origin.

3. It Institutionalizes Ethnic Nationalism

Modern states increasingly define themselves by citizenship, not ethnicity.

4. It Creates Identity Hierarchies

Names shape perception. A neutral civic title emphasizes shared belonging.

Conclusion

Arab tribes historically emerged in the Arabian Peninsula, particularly in what is now Saudi Arabia. Over centuries, Arabic language and culture spread far beyond that region.

But the historical origin of Arab identity does not automatically define the foundational identity of every Arabic-speaking country today.

Embedding “Arab” into constitutional state names transforms a cultural and linguistic identity into an institutional hierarchy.

In diverse societies with layered histories, civic identity provides a more inclusive framework than ethnic labeling.

A modern state can honor Arabic language and culture without constitutionally defining itself through a single inherited ethnic category.

If a country’s name contains “Arab,” it usually signals that it is not truly an Arab country, and the term was often added to give it an Arab identity artificially. Likewise, a country labeled “Islamic” does not mean it is fully Muslim; the name is often a political or symbolic gesture rather than an accurate reflection of the population.

Sara Hussein, a Kurdish writer living abroad, she focuses on politics, culture, and religion. She is a contributing writer for iKurd.net.

The opinions are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of iKurd.net or its editors.

Copyright © 2026 iKurd.net. All rights reserved

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Rauf Naqishbendi | Exclusive to iKurd.net

Once again, the United States has sold out the Kurds to their main enemies, brutal, fanatic Islamist jihadists, and the chauvinistic Turkish state. Given the mentality and brutalities of these Kurds’ enemies, should Kurds not be able to defend themselves, genocide attempt against Kurds by these enemies is imminent.

This betrayal of Kurds by the US is a result of the US’s sudden troop withdrawal from Kurdistan of Syria, and allowing Kurds’ enemies to beset defenseless Kurds. This is the second betrayal of the Kurds by President Donald Trump. This latest US withdrawal was unexpected, but given Trump’s unpredictability, anything and everything is possible.

Obviously, Trump didn’t betray Kurds to avenge Kurds but rather to please Turks and his Saudi Royal Family, Qatar, and the UAE’s business partners. First, let us dissect Saudi’s and their influence on Trump. According to MSN.com, “Foreign money is pouring into President Donald Trump’s meme coin, $TRUMP, and the list of buyers includes powerful governments and secretive companies tied to them that have almost no public track record.”. Accordingly, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE were the major buyers of Trump’s fake coin, which has no intrinsic value. Trump benefited from hundreds of millions of dollars in this fraudulent transaction.

The question is why Saudi’s, and others, buy fake products that have no value, or their only value is to enrich Trump and his family. The answer is that these entities purchased such a crappy thing to enrich Trump’s family. They purchased junk, but they earn favor from Trump. Here is an example of that favor, according to Firstpost.com, “Trump Shakes Hands with Ex-Al-Qaeda Leader in Saudi Arabia. Six months ago, he was on the FBI’s terror list. Today, he’s shaking hands with Donald Trump. Meet Muhammad al-Jolani — ex-Al-Qaeda commander turned President of Syria. In a stunning geopolitical twist, Trump is lifting sanctions on Syria, brokering billion-dollar deals in Saudi Arabia, dangling peace with Iran, and rewriting decades of U.S. foreign policy on the fly. What’s driving this chaos? Power? Oil”.

Furthermore, according to BBC News, on February 2025, Donald Trump shocked the world by suggesting that the US could “take over” and “own” Gaza, resettling its population in the process.”.

Then, after he met Saudi Arabia’s, UAE, and Qatar leader he went the opposite direction and embarked on the current peace process. From the first day of Trump’s reign as the President of the United States, the white house has become Trump’s Business Enterprise, and all his Middle East policy has been framed by his family business.

As explained by NBC, in 2015 Trump acknowledged having a potential “conflict” when it came to issues involving Turkey. The fact that Trump made his decision to pull U.S. troops out of Syria shortly after a phone call with Erdogan has raised alarm bells among policymakers and government ethics watchdog groups, who have long viewed Trump’s extensive business interests as a potential source of conflicts of interest. “I have a little conflict of interest because I have a major, major building in Istanbul.”

The Washington Post has reported that the organization was paid up to $10 million to put the Trump name on the two buildings.

Since Bashar al-Assad’s ouster, tensions have been simmering between al-Sharaa’s forces and the SDF, with al-Shara pressing the Kurdish YPG, a Syrian Kurdish militia, to be integrated into the Syrian Defense Ministry. The Kurds have been challenging al-Sharaa, saying that he will not be able to control the interim government. They argue that the Syrian new Islamic law will not be a fit for Kurds. To this end, SDF negotiated with Damascus, with no avail.

Finally, the government forces began their military offensive in January, capturing districts in Aleppo and heading east, reaching Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa, and parts of Hasaka province with help from Turkey. As al-Sharaa’s fighters advanced, they were taking control of agricultural regions, gas and oil fields, and camps containing ISIS-linked civilians and prisons.

The Hill Barrack, who is also the U.S. ambassador to Turkey, said Tuesday that “Washington has no interest in a long-term military presence in Syria and is offering citizenship rights, cultural protections, and political participation to Kurds in Syria.”. The problem is that Kurds cannot trust the Syrian government, for their leaders and their troops have been Islamic fanatics and are responsible for murdering thousands of Kurds, and they consider Kurds to be infidels; therefore, according to their fanatic faith, they are to be rooted out and massacred, and it’s their religious responsibilities to be wiped out.

The YPG’s fighters were instrumental in defeating ISIS; if it wasn’t for them, ISIS would have taken over Syria and beyond. They sacrificed 21,000 fighters. After all what they had done to rescue the world from Islamic wrath, after 2015’s Trump agreement with his business partner Turkish prime minister Erdogan to allow Turks establish their safe zone which caused tens of thousands of Kurds to be devastated, and flee their homes to save their lives from Turks wrath, Donald Trump had this to say to Kurds “the Kurds know how to fight and, as I said, they’re not angels.”.

From the preceding, one concludes that the US’s sudden withdrawal from Syria was not the US’s foreign policy issue, but rather Trump’s action to please his Arab and Turkish business partners. It’s all about money to enrich Trump’s family. Unfortunately, Kurds are left out because they are struggling for their survival, and they don’t have enough money to knock on Trump’s door to attract his attention. After all, Trump had a handshake with Ex-Al-Qaeda Leader. For sure, the Victims of 9-11 will not take it as a condolence.

Rauf Naqishbendi is a retired software engineer in the San Francisco Bay Area. A long-time senior contributing writer for iKurd.net. His memoirs entitled “The Garden Of The Poets”, recently published. It reads as a novel depicting his experience and the subsequent 1988 bombing of his hometown with chemical and biological weapons by Saddam Hussein. It is the story of his people´s suffering, and a sneak preview of their culture and history.

The opinions are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of iKurd.net or its editors.

Copyright © 2025 iKurd.net. All rights reserved

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Iraq’s Kurdistan Region Bans Broadcasting of Al Jazeera, Al Arabiya, and Al Hadath

ERBIL,— Mix Media, the largest local digital broadcasting network in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, announced on Wednesday a ban on the transmission of three major Arab news channels, citing their anti-Kurdish reporting.

The blocked channels include Qatar’s Al Jazeera, Saudi Arabia’s Al Arabiya, and Al Hadath. The company said the move responds to the networks’ coverage of recent developments in Syrian Kurdistan, also known as Rojava.

In an official statement, Mix Media said the channels were being suspended for what it described as “unprofessionalism” and “policies hostile to the Kurdish people.” The company added that it closely monitors all broadcasts and takes action against content deemed harmful or false.

The ban followed a formal request from a group of lawyers and university professors in Erbil demanding that two Arabic channels be shut down for spreading anti-Kurdish content.

At a press conference in Erbil, Asso Hashim said the channels had “spread harmful narratives against the struggle of the Kurdish people” and openly supported Syria’s Sharaa Islamist armed groups, which aim to destabilize Kurdish communities.

Omed Mohammed, technical manager at Mix Media, explained that the company maintains strict standards for all channels it carries.

“Our work is to transmit broadcasts, but we have filters in place. Channels that are inconsistent with the culture of Kurdistan and the interests of the Kurdistan Region are not permitted,” he said.

Mohammed added that the decision came after careful monitoring of the suspended channels’ coverage, noting that their content “disseminated false news and acted against Kurdistan.”

Mix Media serves an estimated 250,000 to 300,000 subscribers across the Kurdistan Region. The company emphasized that its suspension of the channels is part of its “moral duty to protect subscribers.”

There is no set timeline for the channels’ return, and the suspension will remain in effect as long as the broadcasts continue to violate Mix Media’s rules.

The move received official backing from the Kurdistan Regional Government. The Ministry of Culture sent a letter to Mix Media citing the Media Broadcasting Regulation Law and highlighting content that violated the region’s laws, describing it as “offensive and inciting hatred against the Kurdish people.”

The letter, issued Wednesday by the Director General of Media, Printing, and Publishing, Shirwan Abdullah Khurshid, stated: “Based on continuous monitoring and review, violations were identified concerning the broadcasting of materials and content that contradict current laws and include content considered offensive and inciting hatred against the Kurdish people. Full compliance with legal rules and instructions is required.”

The ban comes amid escalating attacks by Syrian government Islamist forces and affiliated militias in northern Syria. Since mid-January, these forces have advanced into areas previously held by the Syrian Democratic Forces in Aleppo, Deir ez-Zor, Raqqa, and near the Kurdish province of Hasaka.

Human rights groups monitoring the conflict report brutal attacks on Kurdish civilians, including mass killings, rape, arbitrary arrests, and public dissemination of abuse videos on social media.

Al Hadath and Al Arabiya, Saudi Arabian satellite news channels headquartered in Riyadh, are known for their pro-Saudi coverage in the Arab world.

Al Jazeera, based in Doha, Qatar, has wide international reach and influence but has been repeatedly accused of supporting Islamist extremist groups, including Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood, and the Islamic State, through its reporting and political affiliations.

Mix Media’s decision marks a significant challenge to Arab networks operating in the Kurdistan Region, reflecting growing tensions over media coverage and the portrayal of Kurdish communities under attack in Syria Kurdistan.

The ban is expected to remain in place until the channels adjust their coverage to meet the standards set by Mix Media and the Kurdistan Regional Government.

(With files from Rudaw | BaghdadToday | Agencies)

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