Jump to content

Kurdistan Region–PKK conflict: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit Advanced mobile edit
No edit summary
Tags: Visual edit Mobile edit Mobile web edit Advanced mobile edit
 
(26 intermediate revisions by 15 users not shown)
Line 5: Line 5:
| combatant1 = {{flagicon|Kurdistan}} [[Kurdistan Region]]
| combatant1 = {{flagicon|Kurdistan}} [[Kurdistan Region]]
*[[file:Flag_of_KDP.png|25px]] [[Kurdistan Democratic Party|KDP]]
*[[file:Flag_of_KDP.png|25px]] [[Kurdistan Democratic Party|KDP]]
⚫
----''Supported by'':<br>{{flag|Turkey}}<ref name="press.armywarcollege.edu">{{Cite web |title=Iraq's Kurds and Turkey: Challenges for US Policy |url=https://press.armywarcollege.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2219&context=parameters |website=USAWC Press}}</ref><br>{{flagicon|Kurdistan}} [[Kurdish National Council|ENKS]]
*[[file:Flag_of_PUK.png|25px]] [[Patriotic Union of Kurdistan|PUK]] (currently)
⚫
----''Supported by'':<br>{{flag|United States}}{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}<br>{{flag|Turkey}}<ref name="press.armywarcollege.edu">{{Cite web |title=Iraq's Kurds and Turkey: Challenges for US Policy |url=https://press.armywarcollege.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2219&context=parameters |website=USAWC Press}}</ref><br>{{flag|Israel}}<ref name="WOODWARD">{{Cite web |last=WOODWARD |first=MICHELLE |date=2020-08-19 |title=The Kurdish Movement’s Relationship with the Palestinian Struggle |url=https://merip.org/2020/08/the-kurdish-movements-relationship-with-the-palestinian-struggle/ |access-date=2023-12-12 |website=MERIP |language=en-US}}</ref><br>{{flagicon|Kurdistan}} [[Kurdish National Council|ENKS]]
* [[Peshmerga Roj]]
* [[Peshmerga Roj]]
| combatant2 = {{flagicon image|Flag of Koma Komalên Kurdistan.svg}}
| combatant2 = {{flagicon image|Flag of Koma Komalên Kurdistan.svg}}
Line 16: Line 15:
*** {{flagicon image|Flag_of_the_YPS_-_Horizontal.svg|border=}} [[Civil Protection Units|YPS]]
*** {{flagicon image|Flag_of_the_YPS_-_Horizontal.svg|border=}} [[Civil Protection Units|YPS]]
*** {{flagicon image|Flag of the YPS - Horizontal.png|border=}} [[YPS-Jin]]
*** {{flagicon image|Flag of the YPS - Horizontal.png|border=}} [[YPS-Jin]]
* {{flagicon image|Flag of Kurdistan Democratic Solution Party.svg}} [[Kurdistan Democratic Solution Party|PÇDK]]
* {{flagicon image|}} [[Kurdistan Democratic Solution Party|PÇDK]]
[[file:Flag_of_PUK.png|25px]] [[Patriotic Union of Kurdistan|PUK]] (formerly)<hr>''Supported by'': <br>{{flagicon image|Flag of Syrian Democratic Forces.svg}} [[Syrian Democratic Forces]]<br>{{flag|Syria}} (sometimes)<ref>{{cite book|last=Bal|first=İdris|title=Turkish Foreign Policy In Post Cold War Era|year=2004|publisher=BrownWalker Press|location=Boca Raton, Fl.|isbn=9781581124231|page=359|quote=With the explicit supports of some Arab countries for the PKK such as Syria...}}</ref><ref name="Mannes">{{cite book|last=Mannes|first=Aaron|title=Profiles In Terror: The Guide To Middle East Terrorist Organizations|year=2004|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers|location=Lanham, Maryland|isbn=9780742535251|page=185|quote=PKK has had substantial operations in northern Iraq, with the support of Iran and Syria.}}</ref><br>{{flagicon image|InfoboxHez.PNG}} [[Hezbollah]] (claimed by Peshmerga)<ref name="kurdistan24.net">{{Cite web |date=May 30, 2022 |title='PKK allied and working with Iraqi PMF and Lebanese Hezbollah': Deputy Peshmerga Minister |url=https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/28521-%27PKK-allied-and-working-with-Iraqi-PMF-and-Lebanese-Hezbollah%27:-Deputy-Peshmerga-Minister |website=Kurdistan 24}}</ref><br>{{flagicon|Ba'athist Iraq}} [[Ba'athist Iraq]]<ref>{{cite web|work=[[Council on Foreign Relations]]|title=Terrorism Havens: Iraq|date=1 December 2005|url=http://www.cfr.org/iraq/terrorism-havens-iraq/p9513|quote=Saddam has aided...the Kurdistan Workers' Party (known by its Turkish initials, PKK), a separatist group fighting the Turkish government.|access-date=4 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160928075546/http://www.cfr.org/iraq/terrorism-havens-iraq/p9513|archive-date=28 September 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Post-Cold War Relations between Turkey and Syria
[[file:Flag_of_PUK.png|25px]] [[Patriotic Union of Kurdistan|PUK]] (formerly)<hr>''Supported by'':<br>{{flag|Iran}} (alleged by Turkey)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/turkey/9518194/Syria-and-Iran-backing-Kurdish-terrorist-group-says-Turkey.html|title = Syria and Iran 'backing Kurdish terrorist group', says Turkey| date=3 September 2012 }}</ref><br>{{flag|Ba'athist Syria}} (against Turkey)<ref>{{cite book|last=Bal|first=İdris|title=Turkish Foreign Policy In Post Cold War Era|year=2004|publisher=BrownWalker Press|location=Boca Raton, Fl.|isbn=9781581124231|page=359|quote=With the explicit supports of some Arab countries for the PKK such as Syria...}}</ref><ref name="Mannes">{{cite book|last=Mannes|first=Aaron|title=Profiles In Terror: The Guide To Middle East Terrorist Organizations|year=2004|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers|location=Lanham, Maryland|isbn=9780742535251|page=185|quote=PKK has had substantial operations in northern Iraq, with the support of Iran and Syria.}}</ref><br>{{flagicon|Ba'athist Iraq}} [[Ba'athist Iraq]] (against Turkey)<ref>{{cite web|work=[[Council on Foreign Relations]]|title=Terrorism Havens: Iraq|date=1 December 2005|url=http://www.cfr.org/iraq/terrorism-havens-iraq/p9513|quote=Saddam has aided...the Kurdistan Workers' Party (known by its Turkish initials, PKK), a separatist group fighting the Turkish government.|access-date=4 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160928075546/http://www.cfr.org/iraq/terrorism-havens-iraq/p9513|archive-date=28 September 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Post-Cold War Relations between Turkey and Syria
|quote=KDP and PUK thought that they needed Turkey's support against PKK which had gained Saddam's support.|page=28|first=Demet|last=Senbas|year=2018}}</ref><ref name="After Saddam Hussein - 92.12">{{Cite web |title=After Saddam Hussein - 92.12 |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/past/docs/unbound/flashbks/kurds/mylroie.htm |access-date=2023-03-09 |website=www.theatlantic.com}}</ref><br>{{flagicon image|Flag of YBŞ.svg}} [[Sinjar Resistance Units|YBŞ]]
|quote=KDP and PUK thought that they needed Turkey's support against PKK which had gained Saddam's support.|page=28|first=Demet|last=Senbas|year=2018}}</ref><ref name="After Saddam Hussein - 92.12">{{Cite web |title=After Saddam Hussein - 92.12 |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/past/docs/unbound/flashbks/kurds/mylroie.htm |access-date=2023-03-09 |website=www.theatlantic.com}}</ref><br>{{flagicon image|Flag of YBŞ.svg}} [[Sinjar Resistance Units|YBŞ]]<br>{{flagicon image|Flag of Partiya Jiyana Azad a Kurdistanê.svg}} [[Kurdistan Free Life Party|PJAK]]<br>{{flagicon image|Flag of the Democratic Union Party.svg}} [[Democratic Union Party (Syria)|PYD]]
| commander1 = [[file:Flag_of_KDP.png|25px]] [[Masoud Barzani]] <br> [[file:Flag_of_KDP.png|25px]] [[Nechirvan Barzani]] <br> [[file:Flag_of_KDP.png|25px]] Shoresh Ismail Abdullah <br> [[file:Flag_of_PUK.png|25px]] [[Bafel Talabani]] <br>[[file:Flag_of_PUK.png|25px]] [[Lahur Talabany]]
| commander1 = {{flagicon|Kurdistan}} [[Masoud Barzani]] <br> {{flagicon|Kurdistan}} [[Nechirvan Barzani]] <br> {{flagicon|Kurdistan}} [[Şoreş Îsmaîl Abdulla|Shoresh Ismail Abdullah]]<br>{{flagicon|Kurdistan}} [[Jalal Talabani]] (later)

'''Former commanders:'''
[[file:Flag_of_PUK.png|25px]] [[Jalal Talabani]] (sometimes)
| commander2 = {{flagicon image|Flag of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).svg}} [[Murat Karayılan]] <br> {{flagicon image|Flag of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).svg}} [[Bahoz Erdal]] <br> {{flagicon image|Flag of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).svg}} [[Cemil Bayık]] <br> {{flagicon image|Flag of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).svg}} [[Duran Kalkan]] <br> {{flagicon image|Flag of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).svg}} [[Mustafa Karasu]]
| commander2 = {{flagicon image|Flag of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).svg}} [[Murat Karayılan]] <br> {{flagicon image|Flag of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).svg}} [[Bahoz Erdal]] <br> {{flagicon image|Flag of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).svg}} [[Cemil Bayık]] <br> {{flagicon image|Flag of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).svg}} [[Duran Kalkan]] <br> {{flagicon image|Flag of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).svg}} [[Mustafa Karasu]]
----
----
'''Former commanders:'''
'''Former commanders:'''
{{flagicon image|Flag of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).svg}} [[Abdullah Öcalan]]<br>{{flagicon image|Flag of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).svg}} [[Osman Öcalan]] <br> {{flagicon image|Flag of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).svg}} [[Ibrahim Parlak]] <br> {{flagicon image|Flag of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).svg}} [[Şemdin Sakık]] <br> {{flagicon image|Flag of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).svg}} [[Ali Haydar Kaytan]] <br> [[file:Flag_of_PUK.png|25px]] [[Jalal Talabani]] (sometimes)
{{flagicon image|Flag of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).svg}} [[Abdullah Öcalan]]<br>{{flagicon image|Flag of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).svg}} [[Osman Öcalan]] <br> {{flagicon image|Flag of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).svg}} [[Ibrahim Parlak]] <br> {{flagicon image|Flag of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).svg}} [[Şemdin Sakık]] <br> {{flagicon image|Flag of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).svg}} [[Ali Haydar Kaytan]] <br> [[file:Flag_of_PUK.png|25px]] [[Jalal Talabani]] (formerly)
| conflict = Kurdistan Region–PKK conflict
| conflict = Kurdistan Region–PKK conflict
| date = 1983–present<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/war-on-terror/pkk-terrorists-attack-peshmerga-forces-in-n-iraq|title=PKK terrorists attack Peshmerga forces in N. Iraq|date=June 6, 2022|website=Daily Sabah}}</ref>
| date = 1983–present<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/war-on-terror/pkk-terrorists-attack-peshmerga-forces-in-n-iraq|title=PKK terrorists attack Peshmerga forces in N. Iraq|date=June 6, 2022|website=Daily Sabah}}</ref>
| partof = the [[Kurdistan Workers' Party insurgency]]
| partof = the [[Kurdistan Workers' Party insurgency]]
| casualties1 = Unknown
| casualties2 = Unknown
}}
}}


The '''Kurdistan Region–PKK conflict''' is a series of battles and clashes in [[Iraqi Kurdistan]] between the ruling [[Kurdistan Regional Government]] against the [[Kurdistan Workers' Party]] (PKK) and its [[Kurdistan Communities Union|allied groups]]. It started in 1983 and is still ongoing in the form of an [[insurgency]]. The PKK's primary method is using [[guerrilla warfare]] against the [[Peshmerga]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wali |first=Zhelwan Z. |title=Kurd vs Kurd: Fears of full-scale war rise in northern Iraq |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/12/2/kurd-vs-kurd-fears-of-full-scale-war-rise-in-northern-iraq |access-date=2023-03-09 |website=www.aljazeera.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.academia.edu/34630684|title=Bad Blood Between Brothers The KDP, PUK, PKK Conflict|first=Sarbaz|last=Kucher|via=www.academia.edu}}</ref>
The '''Kurdistan Region–PKK conflict''' is a series of battles and clashes in [[Iraqi Kurdistan]] between the ruling [[Kurdistan Regional Government]] against the [[Kurdistan Workers' Party]] (PKK) and its [[Kurdistan Communities Union|allied groups]]. It started in 1983 and is still ongoing in the form of an [[insurgency]]. The PKK's primary method is using [[guerrilla warfare]] against the [[Peshmerga]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wali |first=Zhelwan Z. |title=Kurd vs Kurd: Fears of full-scale war rise in northern Iraq |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/12/2/kurd-vs-kurd-fears-of-full-scale-war-rise-in-northern-iraq |access-date=2023-03-09 |website=www.aljazeera.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.academia.edu/34630684|title=Bad Blood Between Brothers The KDP, PUK, PKK Conflict|first=Sarbaz|last=Kucher|via=www.academia.edu}}</ref>


== History ==
== History ==
The PKK and the Peshmerga, both the KDP and PUK wings, have fought against each other many times until today. When the PKK was founded in 1978, its actions were mostly just in Turkey, however when a [[1980 Turkish coup d'état|coup took place in the eighties]] which heavily cracked down on the PKK, its fighters fled to Syria and Iraq, what is now the Iraqi Kurdistan Region. Initially, the PKK convinced the KDP, which ruled most of Iraqi Kurdistan, to sign a deal in 1983 allowing the PKK to control over some areas bordering Turkey. However, relations between the KDP and PKK went downhill when the PKK began demanding governance in the Kurdistan Regional Government and more territorial control in KDP-ruled areas as it kept fighting Turkey and wanted more influence in the Kurdistan Region.<ref>https://www.rudaw.net/english/analysis/29062021</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/dunya/teror-orgutu-pkk-duhokta-pesmerge-guclerine-saldirdi/2610079|title=Terör örgütü PKK, Duhok'ta Peşmerge güçlerine saldırdı|website=www.aa.com.tr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.trthaber.com/haber/dunya/teror-orgutu-pkk-pesmerge-guclerine-saldirdi-686960.html|title=Terör örgütü PKK Peşmerge güçlerine saldırdı|website=www.trthaber.com|date=9 June 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.odatv4.com/yazarlar/muyesser-yildiz/teroristbasinin-dort-ay-onceki-telefonunu-hatirliyor-musunuz-17082015-189784|title=Teröristbaşının dört ay önceki telefonunu hatırlıyor musunuz - article - ODATV|website=www.odatv4.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indyturk.com/node/267671/t%C3%BCrki%CC%87yeden-sesler/pkk-ve-ikb-aras%C4%B1ndaki-gerginlik-ve-%C3%A7%C4%B1kmazlar|title=Serbest Ferhan Sindi &#124; PKK ve IKB arasındaki gerginlik ve çıkmazlar|date=November 5, 2020|website=Independent Türkçe}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/dunya/ikby-basbakani-barzani-pesmerge-kobaniden-nasil-donduyse-pkk-da-sincardan-cekilmeli/770512|title='Peşmerge Kobani'den nasıl döndüyse, PKK da Sincar'dan çekilmeli'|website=www.aa.com.tr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.yenisafak.com/dusunce-gunlugu/pkk-kurtlerin-akrebidir-3806368|title=PKK, Kürtlerin akrebidir|first=Piri Medya|last=A.Ş|via=www.yenisafak.com}}</ref>
The PKK and the Peshmerga, both the KDP and PUK wings, have fought against each other many times until today. When the PKK was founded in 1978, its actions were mostly just in Turkey, however when a [[1980 Turkish coup d'état|coup took place in the eighties]] which heavily cracked down on the PKK, its fighters fled to Syria and Iraq, what is now the Iraqi Kurdistan Region. Initially, the PKK convinced the KDP, which ruled most of Iraqi Kurdistan, to sign a deal in 1983 allowing the PKK to control over some areas bordering Turkey. However, relations between the KDP and PKK went downhill when the PKK began demanding governance in the Kurdistan Regional Government and more territorial control in KDP-ruled areas as it kept fighting Turkey and wanted more influence in the Kurdistan Region.<ref>https://www.rudaw.net/english/analysis/29062021</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/dunya/teror-orgutu-pkk-duhokta-pesmerge-guclerine-saldirdi/2610079|title=Terör örgütü PKK, Duhok'ta Peşmerge güçlerine saldırdı|website=www.aa.com.tr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.trthaber.com/haber/dunya/teror-orgutu-pkk-pesmerge-guclerine-saldirdi-686960.html|title=Terör örgütü PKK Peşmerge güçlerine saldırdı|website=www.trthaber.com|date=9 June 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.odatv4.com/yazarlar/muyesser-yildiz/teroristbasinin-dort-ay-onceki-telefonunu-hatirliyor-musunuz-17082015-189784|title=Teröristbaşının dört ay önceki telefonunu hatırlıyor musunuz - article - ODATV|website=www.odatv4.com|date=17 August 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indyturk.com/node/267671/t%C3%BCrki%CC%87yeden-sesler/pkk-ve-ikb-aras%C4%B1ndaki-gerginlik-ve-%C3%A7%C4%B1kmazlar|title=Serbest Ferhan Sindi &#124; PKK ve IKB arasındaki gerginlik ve çıkmazlar|date=November 5, 2020|website=Independent Türkçe}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/dunya/ikby-basbakani-barzani-pesmerge-kobaniden-nasil-donduyse-pkk-da-sincardan-cekilmeli/770512|title='Peşmerge Kobani'den nasıl döndüyse, PKK da Sincar'dan çekilmeli'|website=www.aa.com.tr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.yenisafak.com/dusunce-gunlugu/pkk-kurtlerin-akrebidir-3806368|title=PKK, Kürtlerin akrebidir|first=Piri Medya|last=A.Ş|via=www.yenisafak.com}}</ref>


During the [[Iraqi Kurdish Civil War]], Iran and Turkey, as well as Iranian, Iraqi, American forces were drawn into the fighting. On good terms with the PUK at the time, the PKK began attacking KDP Peshmerga and members of the KDP. The PKK moved to the [[Qandil Mountains]] after the war ended. The worst fighting of the entire Kurdish civil war started on October 13, 1997. Hundreds were killed and thousands were displaced. Turkey backed the KDP, due to them both trying to push PKK out of Iraqi Kurdistan. Turkey even intervened on the side of the KDP and saw it as an opportunity to attack the PKK. Turkey also warned the PUK to stop cooperating with the PKK. On September 25, 1997, Turkish forces launched [[Operation Dawn (1997)|Operation Dawn]]. They had the goal of forming a ceasefire between the KDP and PUK while destroying PKK camps. The operation resulted in heavy PKK and Turkish casualties, but Turkey once again failed to push out the PKK from northern Iraq. A cease-fire was negotiated between the PUK and KDP, which the PUK began opposing the PKK.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indyturk.com/node/397681/d%C3%BCnya/ikb%E2%80%99de-ya%C5%9Fananlar-pkk-ikb-mi-pkk-kdp-%C3%A7at%C4%B1%C5%9Fmas%C4%B1-m%C4%B1-kdp-pkk-aras%C4%B1nda-imzalanan|title=IKB'de yaşananlar PKK-IKB mi, PKK-KDP çatışması mı? "KDP-PKK arasında imzalanan protokolü PKK bozdu!"|date=August 11, 2021|website=Independent Türkçe}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/turkce/haberler-dunya-57565292|title=PKK ve Peşmergeler arasındaki gerilimle ilgili neler biliniyor?|newspaper=BBC News Türkçe }}</ref> The PUK's [[Jalal Talabani]], previously an ally to the PKK, later gave the PKK an ultimatum to "disarm or leave Iraq".<ref>{{Cite news |date=2009-03-23 |title=Disarm or leave, Iraq's Talabani tells PKK |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iraq-turkey-idUSTRE52M38O20090323 |access-date=2023-03-09}}</ref>
During the [[Iraqi Kurdish Civil War]], Iran and Turkey, as well as Iranian, Iraqi, American forces were drawn into the fighting. On good terms with the PUK at the time, the PKK began attacking KDP Peshmerga and members of the KDP. The PKK moved to the [[Qandil Mountains]] after the war ended. The worst fighting of the entire Kurdish civil war started on October 13, 1997. Hundreds were killed and thousands were displaced. Turkey backed the KDP, due to them both trying to push PKK out of Iraqi Kurdistan. Turkey even intervened on the side of the KDP and saw it as an opportunity to attack the PKK. Turkey also warned the PUK to stop cooperating with the PKK. On September 25, 1997, Turkish forces launched [[Operation Dawn (1997)|Operation Dawn]]. They had the goal of forming a ceasefire between the KDP and PUK while destroying PKK camps. The operation resulted in heavy PKK and Turkish casualties, but Turkey once again failed to push out the PKK from northern Iraq. A cease-fire was negotiated between the PUK and KDP, which the PUK began opposing the PKK.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indyturk.com/node/397681/d%C3%BCnya/ikb%E2%80%99de-ya%C5%9Fananlar-pkk-ikb-mi-pkk-kdp-%C3%A7at%C4%B1%C5%9Fmas%C4%B1-m%C4%B1-kdp-pkk-aras%C4%B1nda-imzalanan|title=IKB'de yaşananlar PKK-IKB mi, PKK-KDP çatışması mı? "KDP-PKK arasında imzalanan protokolü PKK bozdu!"|date=August 11, 2021|website=Independent Türkçe}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/turkce/haberler-dunya-57565292|title=PKK ve Peşmergeler arasındaki gerilimle ilgili neler biliniyor?|newspaper=BBC News Türkçe }}</ref> The PUK's [[Jalal Talabani]], previously an ally to the PKK, later gave the PKK an ultimatum to "disarm or leave Iraq".<ref>{{Cite news |date=2009-03-23 |title=Disarm or leave, Iraq's Talabani tells PKK |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iraq-turkey-idUSTRE52M38O20090323 |access-date=2023-03-09}}</ref>


The [[United States]] and [[Turkey]] have both collaborated with the KRG against the PKK on many occasions.<ref name="press.armywarcollege.edu">{{Cite web |title=Iraq's Kurds and Turkey: Challenges for US Policy |url=https://press.armywarcollege.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2219&context=parameters |website=USAWC Press}}</ref> [[Israel]] holds a positive image of the KRG and opposes the PKK.<ref name="WOODWARD">{{Cite web |last=WOODWARD |first=MICHELLE |date=2020-08-19 |title=The Kurdish Movement’s Relationship with the Palestinian Struggle |url=https://merip.org/2020/08/the-kurdish-movements-relationship-with-the-palestinian-struggle/ |access-date=2023-12-12 |website=MERIP |language=en-US}}</ref>
The [[United States]] and [[Turkey]] have both collaborated with the KRG against the PKK on many occasions.<ref name="press.armywarcollege.edu">{{Cite web |title=Iraq's Kurds and Turkey: Challenges for US Policy |url=https://press.armywarcollege.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2219&context=parameters |website=USAWC Press}}</ref> [[Israel]] holds a positive image of the KRG and opposes the PKK.<ref name="WOODWARD">{{Cite web |last=WOODWARD |first=MICHELLE |date=2020-08-19 |title=The Kurdish Movement's Relationship with the Palestinian Struggle |url=https://merip.org/2020/08/the-kurdish-movements-relationship-with-the-palestinian-struggle/ |access-date=2023-12-12 |website=MERIP |language=en-US}}</ref>

⚫
[[Saddam Hussein]], who had openly supported the PKK-allied [[Kurdistan Free Life Party|PJAK]] in the past, had also allegedly supported the PKK too.<ref name="After Saddam Hussein - 92.12">{{Cite web |title=After Saddam Hussein - 92.12 |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/past/docs/unbound/flashbks/kurds/mylroie.htm |access-date=2023-03-09 |website=www.theatlantic.com}}</ref> In a speech, Saddam Hussein had indicated his sentiments by stating "curse the father of Turkey as much as the father of Iran."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-12-29 |title=فيديو قديم.. مسؤول عراقى مخاطبا صدام حسين: الأتراك سينزعجون.. والأخير يلعن أبو تركيا |url=https://www.youm7.com/story/2019/12/29/%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%88-%D9%82%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%85-%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%A4%D9%88%D9%84-%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%82%D9%89-%D9%85%D8%AE%D8%A7%D8%B7%D8%A8%D8%A7-%D8%B5%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%AD%D8%B3%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%83-%D8%B3%D9%8A%D9%86%D8%B2%D8%B9%D8%AC%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%AE%D9%8A%D8%B1/4565221 |access-date=2024-07-16 |website=اليوم السابع}}</ref> A spokesman for the Iraqi Foreign Ministry described the PKK as a "tragic legacy from the Saddam regime"<ref>{{Cite web |title=PKK a 'tragic' legacy from Baath regime: Iraqi foreign ministry |url=https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/23072022-amp |access-date=2023-03-09 |website=www.rudaw.net}}</ref> A Duhok politician also accused the PKK of "continuing Saddam Hussein's policy".<ref>{{Cite web |title=دهوك: حزب العمال يواصل سياسة صدام حسين في إقليم كوردستان |url=https://shafaq.com/amp/ar/%D9%83%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%AF%D8%B3%D9%80%D9%80%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA/%D8%AF%D9%87%D9%88%D9%83-%D8%AD%D8%B2%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%84-%D9%8A%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%84-%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%A9-%D8%B5%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%AD%D8%B3%D9%8A%D9%86-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%82%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%85-%D9%83%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%AF%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86 |access-date=2023-03-09 |website=shafaq.com}}</ref>


After [[Imprisonment of Abdullah Öcalan|Abdullah Öcalan's arrest]], he expressed his anger with Masoud Barzani and Jalal Talabani, especially with Barzani, and he called on the PKK to overthrow the Kurdistan Regional Government and kill Barzani and Talabani, whom he referred to as "dogs" and stated "lets not let Barzani and Talabani breathe."<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2013-12-22 |title=İmralı'daki Öcalan diyor ki: ‘Barzani Kürtlük nedir bilmez’ |url=https://www.aydinlik.com.tr/haber/imralidaki-ocalan-diyor-ki-barzani-kurtluk-nedir-bilmez-167761 |access-date=2024-07-16 |website=Aydınlık |language=tr}}</ref><ref>23 "Ocalan Said to Order Deaths of Barzani, Talabani," Tercuman (Istanbul), Jan. 24, 1992, 11; as cited in FBIS- WEU, Jan. 27, 1992, 43.</ref>
⚫
[[Saddam Hussein]], who had openly supported the PKK-allied [[Kurdistan Free Life Party|PJAK]] in the past, had also allegedly supported the PKK too.<ref name="After Saddam Hussein - 92.12">{{Cite web |title=After Saddam Hussein - 92.12 |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/past/docs/unbound/flashbks/kurds/mylroie.htm |access-date=2023-03-09 |website=www.theatlantic.com}}</ref> A spokesman for the Iraqi Foreign Ministry stated that the PKK was a "tragic legacy from the Saddam regime"<ref>{{Cite web |title=PKK a 'tragic' legacy from Baath regime: Iraqi foreign ministry |url=https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/23072022-amp |access-date=2023-03-09 |website=www.rudaw.net}}</ref> The PKK was also accused of "continuing Saddam Hussein's policy" by a Duhok politician.<ref>{{Cite web |title=دهوك: حزب العمال يواصل سياسة صدام حسين في إقليم كوردستان |url=https://shafaq.com/amp/ar/%D9%83%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%AF%D8%B3%D9%80%D9%80%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA/%D8%AF%D9%87%D9%88%D9%83-%D8%AD%D8%B2%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%84-%D9%8A%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%84-%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%A9-%D8%B5%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%AD%D8%B3%D9%8A%D9%86-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%82%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%85-%D9%83%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%AF%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86 |access-date=2023-03-09 |website=shafaq.com}}</ref>


In 2000, after [[Imprisonment of Abdullah Öcalan|Abdullah Öcalan's arrest]], the PKK and PUK had a major clash. The PKK later left the cities and began only being active in the rural areas doing ambushes. On 3 separate occasions on July 29, 2015, October 28, 2020, and January 18, 2022, the PKK attacked the KRG-Turkey oil pipeline. In 2014, the Peshmerga abandoned a piece of land on the mountains of Zini Warte in Erbil.<ref name=":1" /> The PKK later took that piece of land. The KDP deployed its Peshmerga forces back to the area in 2020. The KDP argued it only left the area to fight the Islamic State in the south, but the standoff was eventually resolved by the KDP withdrawing its forces.<ref name=":1" /> [[Masoud Barzani]] accused the PKK of taking advantage of the Peshmerga's conflict with ISIS in order to “invade” parts of the Kurdistan Region bordering Turkey, “instead of supporting the Kurdistan Region experiment.” On June 5, 2021, the PKK ambushed 5 Peshmerga soldiers in Duhok, killing them. According to the KRG, the PKK had occupied 515 villages in the Kurdistan Region as of 2015. Of these, 304 come under Duhok province, while 177 were in Erbil and 34 in Sulaymaniyah. In a statement on February 27, 2021, Masoud Barzani emphasized that the Kurdish authorities could not rebuild 800 villages because of the PKK, adding they would not tolerate the group's presence in the region.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Will KDP-PKK tensions ever end in reconciliation? |url=https://www.rudaw.net/english/analysis/25112020 |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=[[Rudaw]]}}</ref>
In 2000, the PKK and PUK had a major clash. The PKK later left the cities and began only being active in the rural areas doing ambushes. On 3 separate occasions on July 29, 2015, October 28, 2020, and January 18, 2022, the PKK attacked the KRG-Turkey oil pipeline. In 2014, the Peshmerga abandoned a piece of land on the mountains of Zini Warte in Erbil.<ref name=":1" /> The PKK later took that piece of land. The KDP deployed its Peshmerga forces back to the area in 2020. The KDP argued it only left the area to fight the Islamic State in the south, but the standoff was eventually resolved by the KDP withdrawing its forces.<ref name=":1" /> [[Masoud Barzani]] accused the PKK of taking advantage of the Peshmerga's conflict with ISIS in order to “invade” parts of the Kurdistan Region bordering Turkey, “instead of supporting the Kurdistan Region experiment.” On June 5, 2021, the PKK ambushed 5 Peshmerga soldiers in Duhok, killing them. According to the KRG, the PKK had occupied 515 villages in the Kurdistan Region as of 2015. Of these, 304 come under Duhok province, while 177 were in Erbil and 34 in Sulaymaniyah. In a statement on February 27, 2021, Masoud Barzani emphasized that the Kurdish authorities could not rebuild 800 villages because of the PKK, adding they would not tolerate the group's presence in the region.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Will KDP-PKK tensions ever end in reconciliation? |url=https://www.rudaw.net/english/analysis/25112020 |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=[[Rudaw]]}}</ref>


On 20 May 2014, the KDP arrested many [[Kurdistan Democratic Solution Party|PÇDK]] members during operations in [[Erbil]], [[Duhok]], and [[Zakho]]. A few days before the operation, the [[Kurdistan Regional Government]] banned the PÇDK after they protested in front of the [[Kurdistan Region Parliament]] to commemorate a massacre of PKK members by the KDP in Erbil in 1997, during the [[Iraqi Kurdish Civil War]].<ref>{{cite news |title=KDP security forces target KNK, PCDK in Iraqi Kurdistan |url=http://www.kurdishinstitute.be/kdp-security-forces-target-knk-pcdk-in-iraqi-kurdistan/ |access-date=21 April 2016}}</ref>
On 20 May 2014, the KDP arrested many [[Kurdistan Democratic Solution Party|PÇDK]] members during operations in [[Erbil]], [[Duhok]], and [[Zakho]]. A few days before the operation, the [[Kurdistan Regional Government]] banned the PÇDK after they protested in front of the [[Kurdistan Region Parliament]] to commemorate a massacre of PKK members by the KDP in Erbil in 1997, during the [[Iraqi Kurdish Civil War]].<ref>{{cite news |title=KDP security forces target KNK, PCDK in Iraqi Kurdistan |url=http://www.kurdishinstitute.be/kdp-security-forces-target-knk-pcdk-in-iraqi-kurdistan/ |access-date=21 April 2016}}</ref>


During the [[Sinjar clashes (2017)|2017 Sinjar clashes]], the Peshmerga-backed [[Peshmerga Roj]] clashed with the PKK-backed [[Sinjar Resistance Units|YBŞ]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rival Kurdish groups clash in Iraq’s Sinjar region |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/3/3/rival-kurdish-groups-clash-in-iraqs-sinjar-region |access-date=2023-10-07 |website=www.aljazeera.com |language=en}}</ref>
During the [[Sinjar clashes (2017)|2017 Sinjar clashes]], the Peshmerga-backed [[Peshmerga Roj]] clashed with the PKK-backed [[Sinjar Resistance Units|YBŞ]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rival Kurdish groups clash in Iraq's Sinjar region |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/3/3/rival-kurdish-groups-clash-in-iraqs-sinjar-region |access-date=2023-10-07 |website=www.aljazeera.com |language=en}}</ref>


During the [[Sinjar clashes (2022)|2022 Sinjar clashes]], the [[Kurdistan Regional Government|KRG]] and the PKK backed different sides.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Estimated 3,000 people flee armed clashes in northern Iraq |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/5/2/thousands-flee-after-clashes-erupt-in-iraqis-sinjar-2 |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=www.aljazeera.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Yazidis flee 'once again' as Iraqi army launches offensive on Sinjar armed group |url=http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/iraq-sinjar-yazidis-flee-offensive-armed-group |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=Middle East Eye |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Yazidis in Sinjar fear instability as Turkey pounds Iraqi Kurdistan region |url=https://english.alaraby.co.uk/news/sinjar-residents-fear-escalation-after-iraqi-army-ybs-fight?amp=1 |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=english.alaraby.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>
During the [[Sinjar clashes (2022)|2022 Sinjar clashes]], the [[Kurdistan Regional Government|KRG]] and the PKK backed different sides.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Estimated 3,000 people flee armed clashes in northern Iraq |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/5/2/thousands-flee-after-clashes-erupt-in-iraqis-sinjar-2 |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=www.aljazeera.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Yazidis flee 'once again' as Iraqi army launches offensive on Sinjar armed group |url=http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/iraq-sinjar-yazidis-flee-offensive-armed-group |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=Middle East Eye |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Yazidis in Sinjar fear instability as Turkey pounds Iraqi Kurdistan region |url=https://english.alaraby.co.uk/news/sinjar-residents-fear-escalation-after-iraqi-army-ybs-fight?amp=1 |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=english.alaraby.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>


In 2022, the Deputy Minister of Peshmerga, Sarbast Lazgin released a statement to the [[Kurdistan 24]] channel, saying that "some of Iraq's [[Popular Mobilization Forces|PMF]], the [[Government of Syria]], and the [[Hezbollah|Lebanese Hezbollah]] are allied with PKK, they support each other and work together toward the same goals. This alliance has an open route all the way from Syria, through [[Sinjar]], [[Mosul]], [[Kirkuk]], and to Iran, which is under control of PMF, The PKK has military bases near [[Chamchamal District]], [[Sulaymaniyah Governorate]], from where they cooperate with the groups that launch rockets on Erbil, We, the KRG, have repeatedly called on the PKK to stop its armed operations in the Kurdistan Region." He also stated that the PKK fighting has no impact on Turkey, and all it does is drag the Turkish Army deeper into the Kurdistan Region.<ref name="kurdistan24.net">{{Cite web |date=May 30, 2022 |title='PKK allied and working with Iraqi PMF and Lebanese Hezbollah': Deputy Peshmerga Minister |url=https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/28521-%27PKK-allied-and-working-with-Iraqi-PMF-and-Lebanese-Hezbollah%27:-Deputy-Peshmerga-Minister |website=Kurdistan 24}}</ref> Jotiar Adil, the official spokesman of the Kurdistan Region, stated that "we ask all foreign military groups, including the PKK, to not drag the Kurdistan Region into any kind of conflicts or tensions, the PKK are the main reason that pushed Turkey to enter our territories in the Kurdistan Region. Therefore, we think the PKK should leave, we are not a side in this long-standing conflict and we have no plans to be on any side."<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 January 2023 |title=Insight: Turkey’s push into Iraq risks deeper conflict |url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/insight-turkeys-push-into-iraq-risks-deeper-conflict/}}</ref>
In 2022, the Deputy Minister of Peshmerga, Sarbast Lazgin released a statement to the [[Kurdistan 24]] channel, saying that "some of Iraq's [[Popular Mobilization Forces|PMF]], the [[Government of Syria]], and the [[Hezbollah|Lebanese Hezbollah]] are allied with PKK, they support each other and work together toward the same goals. This alliance has an open route all the way from Syria, through [[Sinjar]], [[Mosul]], [[Kirkuk]], and to Iran, which is under control of PMF, The PKK has military bases near [[Chamchamal District]], [[Sulaymaniyah Governorate]], from where they cooperate with the groups that launch rockets on Erbil, We, the KRG, have repeatedly called on the PKK to stop its armed operations in the Kurdistan Region." He also stated that the PKK fighting has no impact on Turkey, and all it does is drag the Turkish Army deeper into the Kurdistan Region.<ref name="kurdistan24.net">{{Cite web |date=May 30, 2022 |title='PKK allied and working with Iraqi PMF and Lebanese Hezbollah': Deputy Peshmerga Minister |url=https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/28521-%27PKK-allied-and-working-with-Iraqi-PMF-and-Lebanese-Hezbollah%27:-Deputy-Peshmerga-Minister |website=Kurdistan 24}}</ref> Jotiar Adil, the official spokesman of the Kurdistan Region, stated that "we ask all foreign military groups, including the PKK, to not drag the Kurdistan Region into any kind of conflicts or tensions, the PKK are the main reason that pushed Turkey to enter our territories in the Kurdistan Region. Therefore, we think the PKK should leave, we are not a side in this long-standing conflict and we have no plans to be on any side."<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 January 2023 |title=Insight: Turkey's push into Iraq risks deeper conflict |url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/insight-turkeys-push-into-iraq-risks-deeper-conflict/}}</ref>


A representative of the Kurdistan Regional Government to the [[Iraqi Armed Forces]], Command General Abdul-Khaliq Talaat, stated that “Sinjar will not be stable as long as the PKK and the other outlawed armed militias stay there" and he called on the Iraqi government to work with the KRG in order to remove the PKK.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-29 |title=Sinjar will never be stable if PKK remains there: Official |url=https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/28513-Sinjar-will-never-be-stable-if-PKK-remains-there:-Official |website=Kurdistan 24}}</ref>
A representative of the Kurdistan Regional Government to the [[Iraqi Armed Forces]], Command General Abdul-Khaliq Talaat, stated that “Sinjar will not be stable as long as the PKK and the other outlawed armed militias stay there" and he called on the Iraqi government to work with the KRG in order to remove the PKK.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-29 |title=Sinjar will never be stable if PKK remains there: Official |url=https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/28513-Sinjar-will-never-be-stable-if-PKK-remains-there:-Official |website=Kurdistan 24}}</ref>
Line 62: Line 62:
[[Category:Iraqi Kurdistan]]
[[Category:Iraqi Kurdistan]]
[[Category:Kurdish–Turkish conflict (1978–present)| ]]
[[Category:Kurdish–Turkish conflict (1978–present)| ]]
[[Category:Kurdish–Turkish conflict|1978]]
[[Category:Military history of Kurdistan Region (Iraq)|PKK]]
[[Category:Wars involving Turkey]]
[[Category:Wars involving Turkey]]
[[Category:Wars involving the Peshmerga]]
[[Category:Wars involving the Peshmerga]]

Latest revision as of 16:50, 20 December 2024

Kurdistan Region–PKK conflict
Part of the Kurdistan Workers' Party insurgency
Date1983–present[8]
Location
Kurdistan Region
Result

Ongoing

Belligerents

Kurdistan Region Kurdistan Region

Supported by:
 Turkey[1]
Kurdistan Region ENKS

KCK

PUK (formerly)
Supported by:
 Iran (alleged by Turkey)[2]
 Ba'athist Syria (against Turkey)[3][4]
Ba'athist Iraq Ba'athist Iraq (against Turkey)[5][6][7]
YBŞ
PJAK
PYD
Commanders and leaders
Kurdistan Region Masoud Barzani
Kurdistan Region Nechirvan Barzani
Kurdistan Region Shoresh Ismail Abdullah
Kurdistan Region Jalal Talabani (later)

Murat Karayılan
Bahoz Erdal
Cemil Bayık
Duran Kalkan
Mustafa Karasu

Former commanders:

Abdullah Öcalan
Osman Öcalan
Ibrahim Parlak
Şemdin Sakık
Ali Haydar Kaytan
Jalal Talabani (formerly)
Casualties and losses
Unknown Unknown

The Kurdistan Region–PKK conflict is a series of battles and clashes in Iraqi Kurdistan between the ruling Kurdistan Regional Government against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and its allied groups. It started in 1983 and is still ongoing in the form of an insurgency. The PKK's primary method is using guerrilla warfare against the Peshmerga.[9][10]

History

[edit]

The PKK and the Peshmerga, both the KDP and PUK wings, have fought against each other many times until today. When the PKK was founded in 1978, its actions were mostly just in Turkey, however when a coup took place in the eighties which heavily cracked down on the PKK, its fighters fled to Syria and Iraq, what is now the Iraqi Kurdistan Region. Initially, the PKK convinced the KDP, which ruled most of Iraqi Kurdistan, to sign a deal in 1983 allowing the PKK to control over some areas bordering Turkey. However, relations between the KDP and PKK went downhill when the PKK began demanding governance in the Kurdistan Regional Government and more territorial control in KDP-ruled areas as it kept fighting Turkey and wanted more influence in the Kurdistan Region.[11][12][13][14][15][16][17]

During the Iraqi Kurdish Civil War, Iran and Turkey, as well as Iranian, Iraqi, American forces were drawn into the fighting. On good terms with the PUK at the time, the PKK began attacking KDP Peshmerga and members of the KDP. The PKK moved to the Qandil Mountains after the war ended. The worst fighting of the entire Kurdish civil war started on October 13, 1997. Hundreds were killed and thousands were displaced. Turkey backed the KDP, due to them both trying to push PKK out of Iraqi Kurdistan. Turkey even intervened on the side of the KDP and saw it as an opportunity to attack the PKK. Turkey also warned the PUK to stop cooperating with the PKK. On September 25, 1997, Turkish forces launched Operation Dawn. They had the goal of forming a ceasefire between the KDP and PUK while destroying PKK camps. The operation resulted in heavy PKK and Turkish casualties, but Turkey once again failed to push out the PKK from northern Iraq. A cease-fire was negotiated between the PUK and KDP, which the PUK began opposing the PKK.[18][19] The PUK's Jalal Talabani, previously an ally to the PKK, later gave the PKK an ultimatum to "disarm or leave Iraq".[20]

The United States and Turkey have both collaborated with the KRG against the PKK on many occasions.[1] Israel holds a positive image of the KRG and opposes the PKK.[21]

Saddam Hussein, who had openly supported the PKK-allied PJAK in the past, had also allegedly supported the PKK too.[7] In a speech, Saddam Hussein had indicated his sentiments by stating "curse the father of Turkey as much as the father of Iran."[22] A spokesman for the Iraqi Foreign Ministry described the PKK as a "tragic legacy from the Saddam regime"[23] A Duhok politician also accused the PKK of "continuing Saddam Hussein's policy".[24]

After Abdullah Öcalan's arrest, he expressed his anger with Masoud Barzani and Jalal Talabani, especially with Barzani, and he called on the PKK to overthrow the Kurdistan Regional Government and kill Barzani and Talabani, whom he referred to as "dogs" and stated "lets not let Barzani and Talabani breathe."[25][26]

In 2000, the PKK and PUK had a major clash. The PKK later left the cities and began only being active in the rural areas doing ambushes. On 3 separate occasions on July 29, 2015, October 28, 2020, and January 18, 2022, the PKK attacked the KRG-Turkey oil pipeline. In 2014, the Peshmerga abandoned a piece of land on the mountains of Zini Warte in Erbil.[27] The PKK later took that piece of land. The KDP deployed its Peshmerga forces back to the area in 2020. The KDP argued it only left the area to fight the Islamic State in the south, but the standoff was eventually resolved by the KDP withdrawing its forces.[27] Masoud Barzani accused the PKK of taking advantage of the Peshmerga's conflict with ISIS in order to “invade” parts of the Kurdistan Region bordering Turkey, “instead of supporting the Kurdistan Region experiment.” On June 5, 2021, the PKK ambushed 5 Peshmerga soldiers in Duhok, killing them. According to the KRG, the PKK had occupied 515 villages in the Kurdistan Region as of 2015. Of these, 304 come under Duhok province, while 177 were in Erbil and 34 in Sulaymaniyah. In a statement on February 27, 2021, Masoud Barzani emphasized that the Kurdish authorities could not rebuild 800 villages because of the PKK, adding they would not tolerate the group's presence in the region.[27]

On 20 May 2014, the KDP arrested many PÇDK members during operations in Erbil, Duhok, and Zakho. A few days before the operation, the Kurdistan Regional Government banned the PÇDK after they protested in front of the Kurdistan Region Parliament to commemorate a massacre of PKK members by the KDP in Erbil in 1997, during the Iraqi Kurdish Civil War.[28]

During the 2017 Sinjar clashes, the Peshmerga-backed Peshmerga Roj clashed with the PKK-backed YBŞ.[29]

During the 2022 Sinjar clashes, the KRG and the PKK backed different sides.[30][31][32]

In 2022, the Deputy Minister of Peshmerga, Sarbast Lazgin released a statement to the Kurdistan 24 channel, saying that "some of Iraq's PMF, the Government of Syria, and the Lebanese Hezbollah are allied with PKK, they support each other and work together toward the same goals. This alliance has an open route all the way from Syria, through Sinjar, Mosul, Kirkuk, and to Iran, which is under control of PMF, The PKK has military bases near Chamchamal District, Sulaymaniyah Governorate, from where they cooperate with the groups that launch rockets on Erbil, We, the KRG, have repeatedly called on the PKK to stop its armed operations in the Kurdistan Region." He also stated that the PKK fighting has no impact on Turkey, and all it does is drag the Turkish Army deeper into the Kurdistan Region.[33] Jotiar Adil, the official spokesman of the Kurdistan Region, stated that "we ask all foreign military groups, including the PKK, to not drag the Kurdistan Region into any kind of conflicts or tensions, the PKK are the main reason that pushed Turkey to enter our territories in the Kurdistan Region. Therefore, we think the PKK should leave, we are not a side in this long-standing conflict and we have no plans to be on any side."[34]

A representative of the Kurdistan Regional Government to the Iraqi Armed Forces, Command General Abdul-Khaliq Talaat, stated that “Sinjar will not be stable as long as the PKK and the other outlawed armed militias stay there" and he called on the Iraqi government to work with the KRG in order to remove the PKK.[35]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Iraq's Kurds and Turkey: Challenges for US Policy". USAWC Press.
  2. ^ "Syria and Iran 'backing Kurdish terrorist group', says Turkey". 3 September 2012.
  3. ^ Bal, İdris (2004). Turkish Foreign Policy In Post Cold War Era. Boca Raton, Fl.: BrownWalker Press. p. 359. ISBN 9781581124231. With the explicit supports of some Arab countries for the PKK such as Syria...
  4. ^ Mannes, Aaron (2004). Profiles In Terror: The Guide To Middle East Terrorist Organizations. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 185. ISBN 9780742535251. PKK has had substantial operations in northern Iraq, with the support of Iran and Syria.
  5. ^ "Terrorism Havens: Iraq". Council on Foreign Relations. 1 December 2005. Archived from the original on 28 September 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016. Saddam has aided...the Kurdistan Workers' Party (known by its Turkish initials, PKK), a separatist group fighting the Turkish government.
  6. ^ Senbas, Demet (2018). Post-Cold War Relations between Turkey and Syria. p. 28. KDP and PUK thought that they needed Turkey's support against PKK which had gained Saddam's support.
  7. ^ a b "After Saddam Hussein - 92.12". www.theatlantic.com. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
  8. ^ "PKK terrorists attack Peshmerga forces in N. Iraq". Daily Sabah. June 6, 2022.
  9. ^ Wali, Zhelwan Z. "Kurd vs Kurd: Fears of full-scale war rise in northern Iraq". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
  10. ^ Kucher, Sarbaz. "Bad Blood Between Brothers The KDP, PUK, PKK Conflict" – via www.academia.edu.
  11. ^ https://www.rudaw.net/english/analysis/29062021
  12. ^ "Terör örgütü PKK, Duhok'ta Peşmerge güçlerine saldırdı". www.aa.com.tr.
  13. ^ "Terör örgütü PKK Peşmerge güçlerine saldırdı". www.trthaber.com. 9 June 2022.
  14. ^ "Teröristbaşının dört ay önceki telefonunu hatırlıyor musunuz - article - ODATV". www.odatv4.com. 17 August 2020.
  15. ^ "Serbest Ferhan Sindi | PKK ve IKB arasındaki gerginlik ve çıkmazlar". Independent Türkçe. November 5, 2020.
  16. ^ "'Peşmerge Kobani'den nasıl döndüyse, PKK da Sincar'dan çekilmeli'". www.aa.com.tr.
  17. ^ A.Ş, Piri Medya. "PKK, Kürtlerin akrebidir" – via www.yenisafak.com.
  18. ^ "IKB'de yaşananlar PKK-IKB mi, PKK-KDP çatışması mı? "KDP-PKK arasında imzalanan protokolü PKK bozdu!"". Independent Türkçe. August 11, 2021.
  19. ^ "PKK ve Peşmergeler arasındaki gerilimle ilgili neler biliniyor?". BBC News Türkçe.
  20. ^ "Disarm or leave, Iraq's Talabani tells PKK". Reuters. 2009-03-23. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
  21. ^ WOODWARD, MICHELLE (2020-08-19). "The Kurdish Movement's Relationship with the Palestinian Struggle". MERIP. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
  22. ^ "فيديو قديم.. مسؤول عراقى مخاطبا صدام حسين: الأتراك سينزعجون.. والأخير يلعن أبو تركيا". اليوم السابع. 2019-12-29. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
  23. ^ "PKK a 'tragic' legacy from Baath regime: Iraqi foreign ministry". www.rudaw.net. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
  24. ^ "دهوك: حزب العمال يواصل سياسة صدام حسين في إقليم كوردستان". shafaq.com. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
  25. ^ "İmralı'daki Öcalan diyor ki: 'Barzani Kürtlük nedir bilmez'". Aydınlık (in Turkish). 2013-12-22. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
  26. ^ 23 "Ocalan Said to Order Deaths of Barzani, Talabani," Tercuman (Istanbul), Jan. 24, 1992, 11; as cited in FBIS- WEU, Jan. 27, 1992, 43.
  27. ^ a b c "Will KDP-PKK tensions ever end in reconciliation?". Rudaw. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
  28. ^ "KDP security forces target KNK, PCDK in Iraqi Kurdistan". Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  29. ^ "Rival Kurdish groups clash in Iraq's Sinjar region". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  30. ^ "Estimated 3,000 people flee armed clashes in northern Iraq". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  31. ^ "Yazidis flee 'once again' as Iraqi army launches offensive on Sinjar armed group". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  32. ^ "Yazidis in Sinjar fear instability as Turkey pounds Iraqi Kurdistan region". english.alaraby.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  33. ^ "'PKK allied and working with Iraqi PMF and Lebanese Hezbollah': Deputy Peshmerga Minister". Kurdistan 24. May 30, 2022.
  34. ^ "Insight: Turkey's push into Iraq risks deeper conflict". 31 January 2023.
  35. ^ "Sinjar will never be stable if PKK remains there: Official". Kurdistan 24. 2022-05-29.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Kurdistan_Region–PKK_conflict&oldid=1264127361"