PKK withdraws fighters from key area to support peace efforts with Turkey
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) announced on Monday that it has withdrawn its forces from the Zap region on the border between Turkey and Kurdistan Region of Iraq, framing the move as a step intended to bolster the ongoing peace track with Turkey.
In a statement published by Firat News Agency (ANF), the group said, “As of the evening of November 16, our forces in the Zap region have been withdrawn,” describing the step as a “significant practical contribution” to efforts aimed at resetting relations with Ankara.
The withdrawal comes six months after the PKK formally declared an end to its armed campaign against Turkey, closing a chapter of more than 40 years of conflict that has cost an estimated 50,000 lives.
The PKK said that the latest move reflects its belief that such steps “will serve the resolution of the Kurdish issue and will help with the peace and democratization of Turkey.”
Zap has long held symbolic and strategic importance for the PKK. The region served as one of its earliest strongholds and has been repeatedly targeted by Turkish operations, including a major ground offensive in 2008 and numerous airstrikes in the years since.
The PKK still maintains positions across the wider Qandil mountain range, where its headquarters relocated after leaving Zap. The group has not indicated whether further withdrawals from other areas are planned.
The announcement comes amid shifting regional dynamics, ongoing Turkish cross-border operations, and renewed international attention on Kurdish–Turkish relations.
The PKK’s recent decision to renounce armed struggle marked a significant political shift, welcomed cautiously by regional actors but met with skepticism by Ankara, which continues its operations.
Previous reports have noted increased Turkish military activity and growing pressure on the PKK’s positions, as well as concerns among Kurdish communities about the humanitarian impact of cross-border operations.
Founded in 1978, the PKK has waged an armed insurgency against the Turkish state for decades, seeking greater autonomy and rights for Kurds. The conflict has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced countless civilians across southeastern Turkey – or what the Kurds name, Northern Kurdistan.
In October, the PKK declared the withdrawal of its fighters from Turkish soil, calling it “a historic step and the beginning of the second phase of the Peace and Democratic Society initiative” launched by the party’s imprisoned leader, Abdullah Ocalan, who has been held in İmralı Prison since 1999.
The withdrawal follows months of dialogue and symbolic gestures between Ankara and Kurdish representatives. In May, the PKK held a landmark congress in the Kurdistan Region, announcing its decision to dissolve and disarm at the call of Ocalan. In July, dozens of PKK fighters burned their weapons in a symbolic ceremony in Sulaimani province.