Latest news with #12thPKKCongress
Hans India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Turkey: 12 soldiers killed after being exposed to methane gas during rescue mission
Ankara: Turkey's Ministry of Defence on Monday said that 12 soldiers of the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF), who were affected by methane gas during a search operation conducted to find the remains of another Turkish soldier in a cave in northern Iraq, have died in the line of duty. "On July 6, 2025, in the Operation Claw-Lock region, four more of our heroic comrades-in-arms who were affected by methane gas were martyred in a search and screening operation carried out in a cave used by members of the separatist terrorist organisation at 852 Altitude Hill, and the number of martyred personnel increased to 12," the Ministry stated on X. It mentioned further that Turkey's Defence Minister Yaşar Guler went to the region with the TAF command level to conduct inspections and attend the farewell ceremonies of the soldiers who passed away in the incident. The ministry said that the incident took place on Sunday, when the rescue mission started to find the soldier's remains who was killed during a military operation against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). Around 19 soldiers, who were exposed to the gas in the cave, were immediately rushed to the hospital for the required treatment, the ministry said. Although the cave was cleared by Turkish soldiers, it was known to have been used in the form of a hospital by the PKK in the past, being at an altitude of 852 metres (2795 feet). In May, the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) had announced its decision to disband and disarm, ending the four-decade long conflict with Turkey. The decision came after PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, in February urged the group to meet and formally decide to disband. The leader has been imprisoned on an island near Istanbul, Turkey, since 1999. "The 12th PKK Congress has decided to dissolve the PKK's organisational structure and end its method of armed struggle. The process initiated by Leader Abdullah Ocalan's statement on February 27, and further shaped by his extensive work and multidimensional perspectives, culminated in the successful convening of our 12th Party Congress between May 5–7," read a statement from the group which was carried by pro-Kurdish news agency ANF. "Despite ongoing clashes, aerial and ground attacks, continued siege of our regions, and the KDP embargo, our congress was held securely under challenging conditions. Due to security concerns, it was conducted simultaneously in two different locations. With the participation of 232 delegates in total, the PKK 12th Congress discussed Leadership, Martyrs, Veterans, the Organizational Structure of the PKK and Armed Struggle, and Democratic Society Building, culminating in historic decisions marking the beginning of a new era for our Freedom Movement," the statement further said, according to ANF. The PKK, which is designated a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union, has been rebelling against the Turkish government for the last more than 30 years. Turkish security forces frequently conduct cross-border operations in northern Iraq, targeting PKK hideouts and bases.
Muscat Daily
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Muscat Daily
Turkey: PKK announces intention to disband
Istanbul, Turkey – The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has said the Kurdish group plans to cease operations soon, news agencies close to the organisation reported on Monday. The announcement comes after four decades of armed conflict with the Turkish government over autonomy for ethnic Kurds in the country. Why did PKK decide to disband? 'The 12th PKK Congress has decided to dissolve the PKK's organisational structure and end its method of armed struggle,' read a statement from the group carried by pro-Kurdish news agency ANF. Their most recent summit has 'brought the Kurdish issue to the point of resolution through democratic politics, thus completing its historical mission', they added. After holding its congress last week, it appeared that the group was responding to a call by PKK founder Abdullah Ocalan to lay down their arms. Ocalan has been imprisoned on an island near Istanbul since 1999. Over the weekend, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had hinted the decision was close at hand, saying 'we are advancing with firm steps on the path to the goal of a terror-free Turkey'. What is the PKK? Kurds are an ethnic group of at least 30mn people who were split between Turkey, Iraq, Syria and Iran when Western allies redrew borders following the end of World War I. The PKK was founded in 1978 with the stated goal of achieving an independent Kurdish state. However, in the 1990s they changed course, seeking only autonomy within Turkey. Armed clashes with Turkish security over the decades, as well as attacks on civilians, led to the group being labelled a terrorist organisation by Ankara, as well as the United States and the European Union. In turn, the Turkish government has been accused of destroying Kurdish villages and towns and forcing displacement of civilians in an effort to root out the group. DW
Shafaq News
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Turkiye hits PKK targets in Duhok's Gara
Shafaq News/ On Saturday, Turkish forces shelled positions belonging to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in villages located on the slopes of Gara Mountain in al-Amadiyah district of northern Duhok province, a security source told Shafaq News. The source said the villages have been abandoned for two years due to ongoing clashes and intense artillery fire. The strikes came a day after the PKK announced it had concluded a major internal conference in Kurdistan, where it adopted what it called 'historic decisions' in response to a call by its leader Abdullah Öcalan. The Firat News Agency, affiliated with the group, reported that the 12th PKK Congress, held May 5–7, issued new directives for the organization's future, though the statement did not clarify whether the group planned to disarm or dissolve. In February, Öcalan — who has been serving a life sentence since 1999 — issued a statement through his lawyers urging the PKK to pursue peace, lay down its arms, and disband. He said he bore 'historic responsibility' for such a move.
