Despite renewed calls for peace by imprisoned Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan and the unilateral ceasefire of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), Turkey has escalated its military operations against Kurdish forces in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI).
According to a report published by Firat News Agency, the HPG has documented four prohibited weapon attacks, three attacks with drones loaded with explosives, six airstrikes by war planes, and heavy artillery shelling—over 1,000 shells across multiple locations—between 1 and 3 March in the KRI’s Medya Defence Zones.
In its 4 March statement, the People’s Defense Forces (HPG) reported that despite the unilateral ceasefire declared by the PKK, Turkey continues to bombard guerrilla-held areas in the Medya Defence Zones, a region of high mountain ranges along the Turkish border in Iraqi Kurdistan. The statement emphasised that while Turkish attacks persist both from the ground and the air, the guerrillas remain committed to the ceasefire announced on 1 March, responding only in self-defence when necessary.
Kamran Osman, head of the KRI’s Community Peacemakers Teams (CPT), confirmed that a helicopter attack was launched targeting villages close to the city of Amedi in the Metina mountain range in the evening hours of 4 March. No civilian casualties were reported as a result of the attack with lasted 12 minutes, “but the remains of bullets fired from Turkish helicopters fell into the houses of Balava village and caused fear and anxiety for the villagers,” according to Osman.
Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party Co-chair Tülay Hatimoğulları has called on Ankara to halt its military to allow the PKK to convene its congress and implement Abdullah Öcalan’s message for peace. “The PKK has reaffirmed its commitment to Öcalan’s vision, rekindling hope for a peaceful resolution. To sustain this hope, a conflict-free environment is essential for the PKK to hold its congress and move forward,” Hatimoğulları stated, adding that “All eyes are now on the Turkish authorities. Concrete, practical steps must be taken to de-escalate tensions and pave the way for dialogue.”
