Israel shared an assessment with the U.S. that at least 5,000 protesters have been killed in Iran since the protests began.

Source: Axios

White House:

Which way, Greenland man?

Britain is withdrawing some personnel from Al Udeid Air Base as a precaution ahead of possible U.S. strikes.

Source: The i Paper

Saudi Arabia told Iran it will not allow its territory or airspace to be used for any attack on Tehran.

Source: AFP

Trump believes he must act against Iran after publicly drawing a red line over the regime’s crackdown on protesters.

Source: CNN, citing unnamed officials

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa:

I said: “Mazloum, if you are fighting for the rights of the Kurdish people, you don't need to shed a single drop of blood because the rights of the Kurdish people are guaranteed.

They will be guaranteed by the constitution. I believe in all the rights of the Kurds in Syria, and this is not a favor from any head of state.

They are given this as a right and a duty, guaranteed by the constitution, and I am pushing with all my might in this direction so that their rights are protected, because they are part of Syrian society.”

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa:

Aleppo was the first major city we entered after liberation. At the time, the SDF was present in the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood and expanded its attacks as we entered the city, slowing military progress toward Hama. We responded quickly by moving forward to Hama, then Homs, and eventually Damascus.

During this period, the SDF expanded from Sheikh Maqsoud into Ashrafiyeh and Bani Zeid—high areas overlooking key roads and industrial zones. Because Aleppo is the backbone of Syria’s economy and requires stability, we reached temporary understandings with the SDF.

The first meeting took place about a month to a month and a half after our arrival in Damascus.

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa:

Over the past sixty years of the previous regime, widespread injustices were committed against all Syrians—including the Kurdish community, and even the Lebanese people. These injustices affected every component of Syrian society.

Like others, the Kurdish community also suffered during the revolution at the hands of ISIS and undisciplined factions. For my part, I did everything within my ability under the banner of the revolution to protect the Kurdish people, even in areas outside our control, despite limited capacity.

In the end, we are all victims—every component of Syrian society suffered from the crimes of the former regime.

Venezuela’s Acting President Delcy Rodríguez:

In December 2025, President Maduro launched a process to release people deprived of liberty, aimed at promoting dialogue, coexistence, and tolerance.

This process is still ongoing and is being coordinated with Venezuela’s justice system. It excludes serious crimes such as homicide and drug trafficking, while cases related to the constitutional order, hatred, violence, and intolerance are being evaluated.

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa:

The Kurdish component has been confined to a partisan, armed faction linked to external leadership in the Qandil Mountains, disconnected from social life and burdened by an unresolved conflict with Türkiye.

This situation isolates Syrian Kurds from opportunities for development, reconstruction, and education now emerging in Syria, and contradicts the international push for Syria’s territorial unity—even by those who claim to protect them.

While the United States offers protection in northeastern Syria, President Trump’s policy clearly supports Syrian unity and reconstruction. In effect, this approach stands in opposition to those goals.

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa:

Is protecting Syria’s Kurds really achieved through an external armed group with a decades-old conflict with Türkiye?

Syria cannot bear the cost of importing this problem onto its own soil. Tying the Kurdish cause to the PKK—along with its regional conflicts, forced recruitment, and militarization of minors—only deepens tensions with the Syrian state.

True protection of the Kurdish component comes through integration into the new Syrian reality. The Syrian state is an asset, not an enemy. Only if Kurds were excluded from citizenship, governance, or existence would alternative paths be justified.

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa:

The core problem with the SDF is that it is fragmented and multi-headed. You negotiate with a body that cannot enforce the agreements it signs.

Decision-making is not unified and is closely tied to PKK leadership in Qandil Mountains, despite repeated denials.

Germany plans to deploy its first soldiers to Greenland as early as this week.

An advance team of a few Bundeswehr personnel is expected to go first.

Source: BILD

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen:

We met with JD Vance and Rubio today, we came here following a number of remarkable public comments on Greenland and Arctic security.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen:

The Kingdom of Denmark has already stepped up our own contribution by committing additional funds for military capabilities.

Not dog sleds, but ships, drones, fighter jets, etc. And we are definitely ready to do more.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen:

Greenland has been a member of NATO since 1949, and it is covered by Article five.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen:

We still have a fundamental disagreement, but we also agree to disagree.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen:

We will continue to talk, we have decided to form a high-level working group to explore if we can find a common way forward.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen:

I must say that we share, to some extent, Trump's concerns, there is definitely a new security situation in the Arctic.