Turkiye’s navy will continue performing towards PKK militants in areas the place they’re current until it’s “certain” the menace is eliminated following the Kurdish group’s determination to disband, the Defence Ministry mentioned Thursday, in a nod to its presence notably in Iraq.
The navy will “continue to act in the regions used by the separatist PKK terrorist organisation with determination until it is certain the region is cleared and will no longer pose a threat to Turkey”, a Ministry spokesman mentioned in a briefing.
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He referred particularly to “land search and scan activities, the detection and destruction of caves, shelters, mines and hand-made explosives”.
His remarks got here three days after the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) introduced its dissolution and the tip of its four-decade insurgency that price greater than 40,000 lives.
According to a Ministry supply, “nothing has changed” for Turkish troops following the PKK’s announcement.
“Although the terror organisation has decided to disband, we need to be careful (about provocations)… by those within the (PKK) who are unhappy with the decision,” the supply added.
“If the disbanding is implemented concretely, we will return to our cleaning activities without conducting an operation to prevent these areas from being used by terrorist organisations again,” he mentioned, with out elaborating additional.
Blacklisted as a terrorist organisation by Turkiye and its Western allies, the PKK operates rear bases in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan area, the place Turkiye additionally maintains navy bases and sometimes carries out air and floor operations towards the Kurdish militants.
The PKK can be current in Syria, the place Turkiye has navy bases within the north and has since 2016 carried out a number of floor operations to power the militants away from its border.
The supply mentioned Turkiye’s MIT intelligence service would set up a mechanism for “monitoring the disarmament” that might be achieved in coordination with the safety forces in Iraq and Syria.
“It is not possible for the Turkish armed forces to perform this task since it is in other countries,” he mentioned.
“We will provide support if needed, we have bases there. Our presence (in Iraq and Syria) will continue until we are sure of security.”
The supply additionally mentioned there could be no involvement of third events within the disarmament course of.
“There will definitely be no UN or third parties. The problems in our region should be solved by the regional countries,” he mentioned.
The weapons handover shall be overseen by Turkish intelligence officers at areas in Turkey, Syria and Iraq, who’re anticipated to register the arms and the identification of the fighters in coordination with the Syrian and Iraqi authorities, Turkish media studies mentioned.
“Our intelligence service will follow the process meticulously to ensure the promises are kept,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan mentioned Wednesday.
Published – May 15, 2025 09:17 pm IST
