PKK Fighters Burn Weapons in Northern Iraq as Group Moves Toward Disarmament

Erbil, Iraq, July 11, 2025 (FMC) — Dozens of members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) have publicly burned their weapons in northern Iraq, in what appears to be a major step toward the group’s disarmament following its announcement to dissolve earlier this year.

According to multiple reports, including sources cited by Sputnik, the symbolic destruction of arms took place as part of the first phase of a broader demobilization plan. The group, long designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, announced in May that it was ending its decades-long armed struggle and formally dissolving its military structure.

The PKK, which emerged in 1978, has fought an insurgency against the Turkish state for over 40 years, advocating for greater rights and autonomy for the Kurdish population in Turkey. The conflict has claimed tens of thousands of lives and has remained a major point of tension in the region.

The recent disarmament event took place in PKK-controlled areas of northern Iraq, where many of its fighters have been based. A second phase of the disarmament process is expected in the coming days, according to reports.

While Turkish authorities have not issued an official response to the latest developments, the move could signal a rare opening for a political resolution to one of the region’s most protracted conflicts.

Regional observers are watching closely to see whether this initiative will lead to lasting peace or face setbacks amid ongoing security and political complexities across Kurdish regions in Iraq, Syria, and Turkey.