The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) announced on sunday it is withdrawing its fighters from Turkey, relocating them to northern Iraq in a pivotal moment for the ongoing peace process with the Turkish government. The move signals a concerted effort to end a four-decade insurgency that has claimed tens of thousands of lives and has been one of the longest-running conflicts in the region.

Sabri Ok, a member of the Kurdish umbrella organization the Kurdistan Communities Union, confirmed the withdrawal on october 26, 2025. He stated that all PKK forces within Turkey are moving to the Medya Defense Areas in northern Iraq "to avoid clashes or provocations." The decision, which has the approval of the PKK's imprisoned leader Abdullah Öcalan, is the most tangible step yet in the group’s commitment to ending its armed struggle.

This withdrawal follows a series of landmark announcements earlier in the year. On may 12, 2025, the PKK declared it would disarm and disband entirely, following a call from Öcalan to transition from armed conflict to democratic politics. This was followed by a symbolic ceremony in july, where PKK fighters in northern Iraq began laying down their weapons, demonstrating a concrete commitment to the peace initiative.

In exchange for these steps, the PKK is calling for significant legal and political reforms within Turkey. Its demands include the expansion of rights for the country's large Kurdish minority and improved prison conditions for Öcalan. A PKK spokesman expressed concern over the perceived slow response from the Turkish government regarding these reforms, particularly on issues of linguistic and political inclusion.

Turkish officials have welcomed the withdrawal as a vital step toward achieving what President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's government calls a "terror-free Turkey." However, they have also cautioned about the potential for provocations during the process. A parliamentary committee has been established to work on reforms intended to support the peace process, and President Erdoğan is expected to meet with Kurdish legislators to discuss the path forward.

Despite the progress, the PKK faces a precarious situation. Even as it relocates its fighters to Iraq as a gesture of peace, the group confronts ongoing Turkish military pressure in the region. Operations such as 'Claw Eagle' and 'Claw Tiger' continue to target PKK positions in northern Iraq, creating what analysts describe as a "survival challenge" for the group in the very areas designated for its withdrawal.

The withdrawal marks a potential turning point in the long and bloody conflict. Its success, however, will depend on sustained political will from both Ankara and the PKK, and the ability to navigate the complex security dynamics that continue to unfold in northern Iraq.