Latest news with #ZekiAkturk
Rudaw Net
06-03-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Turkey says PKK must lay down arms, dissolve 'immediately'
Also in Turkey Pro-Kurdish party to hold fresh talks on Ankara-PKK peace efforts PKK undergoing 'transformation' to political struggle in Turkey: Senior commander No Turkish attacks in Kurdistan Region for two days: Monitor Turkish parties taking 'positive steps' towards peace process: Researcher A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkey's defense ministry on Thursday called on the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and its affiliates to immediately disband and surrender their weapons, asserting that the group has reached the "end of its lifespan." 'The PKK and all groups affiliated with it must end their terrorist activities, dissolve themselves, and immediately and unconditionally lay down their weapons and surrender,' defense ministry spokesperson Zeki Akturk said in a press briefing. 'The PKK organization has come to understand, albeit belatedly, that it has reached the end of its lifespan and that it has no choice but to dissolve itself,' he added. Akturk also revealed that Turkey's military operations have "neutralized" 26 fighters in the past week, and that 478 have been neutralized since the start of the year. Turkey uses the term 'neutralize' to refer to adversaries who are captured, wounded, or killed. His remarks come after the PKK declared a unilateral ceasefire with Turkey on Saturday, stating that it agrees with the contents of leader Abdullah Ocalan's recent letter that called on the group to disarm and disband, but set a physical meeting with their jailed leader as a precondition to any successful peace process. Ankara considers the PKK a terrorist organization, as do its Western allies. Ocalan's letter has raised hopes for a resolution to the nearly four-decade-long conflict, which has claimed over 40,000 lives. Founded in 1978, the PKK initially called for the establishment of an independent Kurdistan but now calls for autonomy. The group is designated a terrorist organization by Turkey.
Shafaq News
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Turkish Defense Ministry: 408 PKK members killed this year
Shafaq News/ On Thursday, Turkiye's Defense Ministry announced that 31 members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) were killed over the past week during military operations in northern Iraq and Syria, bringing the total number of PKK members killed this year to 408. The ministry's public relations and media adviser, Zeki Akturk, stated that Turkiye 'remains committed to eliminating PKK threats along its borders.' Turkiye has conducted multiple military campaigns targeting PKK elements and ISIS in northern Syria, including Euphrates Shield (2016), Olive Branch (2018), and Peace Spring (2019). The Turkish Defense Ministry continues these strikes, citing concerns over "border security, militant activity near Turkish-controlled areas, and efforts by PKK-affiliated groups to destabilize the region." Ankara classifies the PKK as a terrorist organization and argues that its military operations are necessary to prevent cross-border attacks, however, those attacks come amid ongoing peace efforts.
