Erdogan: Turkey Will Resume Military Operations Against PKK If Disarmament Process Fails

ARK News.. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned that Turkey will resume military operations against the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) if the group's disarmament process stalls.

Speaking at an iftar dinner in Istanbul on Saturday, March 1, 2025, coinciding with the first day of Ramadan, Erdogan stated:

"Turkey will resume its operations against the PKK if the disarmament process comes to a halt or if the promised commitments are not fulfilled."

Earlier on Saturday, the PKK announced a ceasefire with Turkey in response to a call from its imprisoned leader, Abdullah Ocalan.

The group declared that it would "comply with the call of its leader to achieve peace and implement a ceasefire starting Saturday."

The PKK also expressed hope that Ankara would release Ocalan, who has been held in near-total isolation since 1999, so that he could lead the disarmament process. It emphasized the need for political and democratic conditions to ensure the success of the initiative.

On Thursday, February 27, 2025, Ocalan issued a call for the PKK to disarm and dissolve itself, a move that could potentially bring an end to the decades-long conflict with Turkey.

The PKK is designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union, and the United States.

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