ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Kurdistan Region leaders on Friday congratulated Kurds on the Newroz celebrations, honoring their historic resilience during times of hardship and vowing to protect the Region amid the ongoing regional war.

President Masoud Barzani wished Kurds and all those celebrating a Happy Newroz, extending his greetings to the families of martyrs and Peshmerga fighters, while calling for greater unity and coordination among political forces amid regional tensions.

“I hope this year's Newroz will be the beginning of greater unity and brotherhood between the political parties and the people of Kurdistan. I hope that the peoples of the region can live in peace and tranquility away from war and tension,” read a statement from Barzani.

The Kurdistan Region has come under repeated attack since the US-Israeli war with Iran started in late February, with many strikes having been claimed by pro-Iran militias in Iraq.

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani expressed gratitude for the people’s resilience in the face of the continued attacks.

“We will do our utmost to protect Kurdistan from any danger,” he said. “We assure our people that we are deploying all our capabilities in defense of Kurdistan and to ward off every threat.”

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani also congratulated the people on Newroz, calling it “a profound reflection of a history full of struggle and stories of the resilience of a nation that has always confronted oppression with a powerful will and has never surrendered.”

He also called for the implementation of the constitution to resolve Erbil-Baghdad disputes, saying it is the only “guarantee for a strong and stable Iraq.”

While Newroz marks the beginning of spring and the traditional New Year, it is rooted in the story of Kawa the Blacksmith, who led a rebellion against the tyrant Zuhak. Fire is the main symbol in the celebrations, representing liberation and resilience.

“Newroz is the symbol of the breaking of darkness and the renewal of life — a historical truth that affirms no force or weapon can extinguish the flame of the love of freedom within the Kurdish people,” the president said.

“Today, the fire of Newroz remains for us a continuous call to resilience, to confronting challenges, to solidarity and togetherness,” he added.

After the blacksmith led the rebellion against Zuhak and killed him with his hammer, he lit a big fire to let the people know of the victory. Being on the spring equinox, it is also a symbol of light winning over darkness.

Families celebrate by going into nature and lighting fires to mark the commemoration.