PKK Says Withdrawing All Forces From Turkey To Northern Iraq
PKK Says Withdrawing All Forces From Turkey To Northern Iraq
The Kurdish group urges the Turkish government to pass political reforms enabling its political transition
The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) said on Sunday that it is withdrawing its fighters from Turkey to northern Iraq , urging Ankara to take legal steps to protect the peace process.
The PKK, which began its armed struggle against the Turkish state in 1984, decided in May to lay down arms following an appeal from its imprisoned leader, Abdullah Ocalan , to end the conflict. The decades-long fighting has claimed over 40,000 lives.
In a symbolic gesture in July, the PKK destroyed some of its weapons, signalling its commitment to peace. During a ceremony in its Qandil Mountains stronghold in northern Iraq, the group announced its full withdrawal from Turkey, saying it sought to build the foundation for a “free, democratic and fraternal” future.
The PKK said the move reflected its dedication to disarmament and integration, calling on the Turkish government to enact laws that would enable its transition into legitimate political participation.
PKK spokesperson Zagros Hiwa told Reuters that the withdrawal was part of implementing Ocalan’s peace plan, adding that Turkey now needed to introduce political changes to support the process.
After being pushed out of southeastern Turkey, the PKK has operated primarily from bases in northern Iraq, where it faced frequent Turkish military strikes and the establishment of Turkish outposts.
A resolution to the long-running conflict between Turkey and the PKK could have broader regional implications, particularly in Syria, where the US supports Kurdish forces that Ankara views as linked to the PKK.
🔗SOURCE ➡️ Middle East Eye
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Fidan said it was a “matter of time” before the Peoples Protection Unit (YPG) gets “eliminated,” stressing that it must lay down its weapons “as soon as possible.”
The YPG is the Syrian branch of Ankara’s sworn foe, the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). The YPG is considered the backbone of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Washington’s Kurdish proxy in Syria.
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