Non-Syrian PKK militants relocated from Syria to Iraq’s Qandil
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – At least 100 non-Syrian militants affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) have crossed from northeastern Syria into the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and moved on to the group’s main headquarters in the Qandil Mountains, informed sources told Al-Monitor on Tuesday.
According to the report, the transfer was facilitated by authorities in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and comes within the framework of a U.S.-brokered agreement between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian transitional government, signed on Jan. 30.
The deal aims to reorganize military structures in northeastern Syria and address concerns surrounding non-Syrian armed elements.
The relocation reportedly followed a meeting held on Jan. 22 between Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani and SDF Commander-in-Chief Mazlum Abdi, according to the report.
Sources said Barzani stressed that removing non-Syrian PKK members from Syria would serve as a key confidence-building measure among regional and international stakeholders. Abdi later agreed to the proposal, the report noted.
The move was positively received by Ankara. Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin were described as “extremely pleased” with Abdi’s approval, a development that may have contributed to a relative softening of Turkey’s stance toward the formation of four SDF brigades under the new arrangement.
While the exact number of militants transferred has not been disclosed, sources indicated that the process remains ongoing, with further relocations expected in the coming period.