Turkish warplanes conducted airstrikes against a position held by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in the Metina Mountain region of northern Duhok on March 25, 2025, escalating a conflict that has seen increased violence and instability across the area. According to security sources, the strikes targeted the Al-Amediya district, with witnesses reporting plumes of smoke rising from near the village of Sirkli. The precise details regarding casualties or damage have not yet emerged.
This military operation is part of a series of intensified clashes between Turkish forces and the PKK that have been on the rise since early March, particularly affecting villages such as Koherzi, Shiladze, and Barji, as well as the regions around Mounts Gara and Metina. Affected residents have already started fleeing their homes while farmlands have been left scorched in the wake of the conflict.
In response to the ongoing hostilities, Bese Hozat, co-chair of the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK), stated on March 25 that the PKK will not disarm or dissolve unless substantial political and legal reforms are established. Hozat emphasized, "The fundamental requirement for the PKK to lay down its arms is the formation of a democratic political and legal dimension. Without this, the PKK cannot lay down its arms or dissolve itself."
This statement follows a recent call from Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the PKK, who highlighted during a message relayed in late February the necessity for the group to convene a congress where they could decide to integrate with the state and society. Ocalan insisted that, "All groups should lay down their arms and the PKK should dissolve itself," showcasing a potential pivot toward reconciliation.
Meanwhile, political maneuvering continues within Turkey’s government. In October 2024, Devlet Bahceli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), called for Ocalan to formally announce the PKK's dissolution before the Turkish parliament. Bahceli's remarks sparked discussion around a proposed 'right to hope' law, which Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc has clarified does not provide a legal basis for Ocalan's release. Tunc stated, "There is no legal basis for granting Ocalan any right to release under the 'right to hope' regulation.";0
Ocalan's imprisonment since 1999 on Imrali Island has been a significant point of contention in peace negotiations. Hozat remarked on the importance of changing legislation as a critical step for genuine dialogue, asserting, "You are starting such a serious process; of course, you will change the legislation. If you are serious and sincere, you will change that legislation."
In light of Ocalan’s instructions, the PKK declared a unilateral ceasefire. However, they have also outlined that the release of Ocalan is a prerequisite for any further steps towards disarming and disbanding the organization. This presents a considerable challenge for negotiations, as the group's leadership maintains that such decisions cannot be made without Ocalan's physical presence.
This ongoing situation underscores the complexity of the Kurdish issue in Turkey, where questions of identity, autonomy, and political representation continue to fuel tensions. The conflict has claimed approximately 40,000 lives since it began in the late 1970s, and as the situation evolves, so too does the hope for potential peace. Both the Turkish government and the PKK stand at a crossroads, each with differing visions for the future and the pathways leading to a resolution amidst this fraught landscape.
