PKK Withdraws All Fighters from Turkey in Historic End to Armed Conflict

On October 26, 2025, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) announced it had withdrawn all its fighters from Turkey to northern Iraq.

“According to the group, the demobilization is taking place "in accordance with the decisions of the 12th Congress and with the approval of leader Abdullah Ocalan," who has been detained on the prison island of Imrali since 1999”

Agenzia Nova

This move capped a year in which the group declared in May it would disband and renounce armed conflict and staged a symbolic weapons-burning ceremony in July.

Agenzia Nova

The relocation—approved by imprisoned leader Abdullah Öcalan—centers on the Qandil/Medya Defense Areas in Iraqi Kurdistan and was publicized at a ceremony in the Qandil Mountains.

Sources across regions agree this marks a watershed after decades of insurgency, but they differ in emphasis.

Some frame it as a coordinated, formal “second phase” of peace, while others stress a cautious peace initiative requiring legal and political follow-through by Ankara.

Ankara publicly welcomed the withdrawal while moving to shape a legal framework for peace through parliament.

Reports describe indirect talks since late 2024 and a 48-member parliamentary commission working toward a year-end deadline.

Middle East Eye

Officials warn the process must be shielded from provocations and sabotage.

Turkish messaging often frames the goal as a “terror-free Turkey.”

The PKK and mediators press for concrete legal and political steps beyond broad amnesty to enable democratic participation and protect ex-combatants.

The PKK couples its withdrawal with demands for legal reforms and clarity on Abdullah Öcalan’s status.

“The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a militant Kurdish group engaged in a decades-long insurgency in Turkey, announced it is withdrawing its fighters from Turkey to northern Iraq as part of a peace initiative with the Turkish government”

NewsBreak

Coverage ranges from explicit calls to free Öcalan to more cautious references to potentially meeting or releasing him.

There are also broader requests to safeguard rights for demobilized fighters.

Reports note frustration over slow progress on Kurdish rights and Öcalan’s conditions.

Despite these issues, the PKK reiterates a commitment to a democratic, non-violent path.

Accounts of the conflict’s toll and the PKK’s evolution vary by outlet.

Some cite more than 40,000 killed since 1984, others say around 50,000, and still others refer to “tens of thousands” over decades.

livingstonenterprise.net

Multiple sources reiterate that Turkey, the U.S., and the EU list the PKK as a terrorist organization.

Coverage also notes the group’s ideological shift—from seeking an independent Kurdish state to pursuing autonomy and rights within Turkey—and recalls past failed peace efforts.

Reactions and implications are reported unevenly.

“The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) announced it has withdrawn all its forces from Turkey to northern Iraq, marking a significant milestone in the peace process with Ankara and signaling the formal end of its four-decade armed campaign”

The Media Line

Visual and on-the-ground details include images of crossings and a staged presentation of 25 fighters.

The Media Line

Some outlets highlight regional geopolitics or domestic economic cautions.

Several West Asian and alternative sources flag broader geopolitical stakes, including Syria, and differing expectations for legal reforms and messaging inside Turkey.

One multi-topic outlet pairs the PKK update with unrelated entertainment and sports coverage, a reminder of how context and framing vary widely across media ecosystems.