Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani has issued a strong warning over the escalating violence in Syria, expressing grave concern about ongoing fighting in the city of Aleppo and the potential threat it poses to Kurdish civilians.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Barzani said that recent political changes in Syria have created an important opportunity to reach a comprehensive political solution that safeguards the legitimate rights of the Kurdish people and resolves longstanding disputes through peaceful means. He emphasized that he and other actors have made continuous efforts to engage all sides in dialogue to address conflicts without resorting to violence.

However, Barzani warned that the current situation in Aleppo is “extremely dangerous,” noting that continued clashes and violence threaten the lives of civilians and innocent residents. He also raised alarm over reports and threats of ethnic cleansing targeting Kurds in the area.

Calling on Syrian authorities, Barzani urged those in power not to turn political disagreements into ethnic or national conflicts. He stressed that Kurdish residents in Aleppo must not be subjected to repression, forced displacement, or pressure that would drive them from their ancestral lands.

Barzani also appealed to Kurdish parties in Syria, particularly the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), to intensify efforts to halt the fighting and prevent further bloodshed. He called on all sides to commit seriously to dialogue and negotiations as the only viable path toward resolving disputes.

“A political disagreement cannot justify putting civilian lives at risk or committing ethnic cleansing against the Kurdish people,” Barzani said, warning that such actions constitute crimes against humanity and could lead to severe and irreversible consequences.