In a symbolic gesture signaling potential reconciliation, Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) fighters burned weapons during a ceremony in Northern Iraq's mountainous Qandil region early Friday. The move follows the group's May decision to abandon armed struggle after four decades of conflict with Turkiye.
Footage showed militants tossing rifles and ammunition into fires northwest of Sulaymaniyah, where the PKK has maintained bases since 2013. The event aligns with jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocelan's recent declaration from Imrali Prison that the Kurdish autonomy movement should transition to "democratic politics and law."
Analysts suggest this development could reshape security dynamics in the Middle East, though Ankara remains cautious. "While symbolic disarmament matters, lasting peace requires verifiable steps," said Middle East security expert Dr. Emre Aydin, noting Turkiye's continued counterterrorism operations in northern Iraq.
The disarmament comes as regional stakeholders monitor potential ripple effects on Kurdish populations in Syria and Iran. Business leaders eye improved stability for cross-border energy projects, while diaspora communities hope for reduced tensions affecting Kurdish cultural rights.
