Ongoing Turkish military operations in Iraq’s Kurdistan region have sparked controversy and drawn criticism from pro-Kurdish groups, with accusations of occupation, regional complicity and destruction of civilian areas. In a recent opinion piece published in Yeni Özgür Politika, Selahattin Erdem, a Kurdish political commentator affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), strongly criticised the Turkish government’s operations, accusing it of annexation under the guise of creating a buffer zone.
Erdem’s article comes amid an escalation of Turkish military activity in the region, which Turkish authorities say is aimed at neutralising PKK forces and securing a “buffer zone” to protect their borders. However, Erdem argued that these actions constitute a strategic occupation of Kurdish territory with the support of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the tacit approval of the Iraqi government.
According to Erdem, the Turkish military presence in areas such as Metina, Zap and Garê (the so-called Medya defence zones) has caused widespread devastation. “Every day the media broadcast new footage of military reinforcements. Tanks and armoured vehicles are being transported to the highest mountain peaks,” Erdem wrote, referring to the destruction caused by Turkish air strikes and artillery. “The areas are burning because of the constant bombardment from planes, helicopters and artillery. Vineyards, gardens, villages and forests are in ruins”.
Widespread displacement
Turkish military operations have reportedly led to the displacement of hundreds of Kurdish villagers. Erdem said that these areas are not only being depopulated, but are becoming uninhabitable. “Hundreds of villages have been burned, forcing villagers to flee their homes. Local TV channels occasionally show scenes of desperate and crying families who have barely escaped with their lives,” he wrote.
Human rights organisations and local Kurdish activists have expressed concern about the humanitarian impact of the ongoing conflict. The scale of destruction and the displacement of civilians has added to an already tense political landscape in the Kurdistan region.
Occupation vs. ‘buffer zone’: Erdem’s critique of Turkish policy
Erdem’s main criticism was of the Turkish government’s justification for its military actions. Turkish officials have frequently stated that their operations are aimed at creating a buffer zone along the border to prevent PKK attacks on Turkish soil. But Erdem rejected this narrative, calling it a cover for what he described as a “military occupation and annexation” of Kurdish territory.
“Some claim that these operations are aimed at creating a buffer zone on the Iraqi border,” Erdem wrote, “but is this really the case? Or is it about the AKP-MHP (Turkey’s ruling coalition) fascism trying to occupy and annex these areas?”
He argued that the traditional concept of a buffer zone involves the insertion of a neutral third military force between warring parties to de-escalate the conflict. In the case of the Turkish military presence in the Kurdistan Region, however, Erdem said that no such force has been introduced and that the Turkish military is acting as an occupying force. “In these regions, there is no neutral force between the PKK guerrillas and the Turkish army. The Turkish army is trying to take control of these areas, not to create a buffer zone,” Erdem wrote.
Regional complicity: KDP and Iraq’s role
Erdem also accused the KDP, the dominant political party in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), and the Iraqi central government of complicity in Turkey’s military expansion. He argued that the KDP has allowed Turkish forces to establish a foothold in Iraqi Kurdistan in exchange for maintaining its political dominance in the region. According to Erdem, this is a betrayal of Kurdish interests.
“While the Turkish state is becoming an occupying force, the KDP and the Iraqi government are selling their own territories to foreign powers. This betrayal is no secret and everyone involved knows exactly what they’re doing,” he wrote. “Turkey claims that everything is being done with the approval of the Iraqi and KDP authorities, while these authorities try to hide their complicity by denying their role in the process”.
The relationship between the Turkish state and the KDP has long been a bone of contention between Kurdish factions. The PKK, which has waged an armed struggle against Turkey for decades, has accused the KDP of undermining Kurdish unity by collaborating with Ankara. Erdem’s criticism reflects wider discontent within the Kurdish political landscape, particularly among groups opposed to the KDP’s leadership.
KDP repression and limited public opposition
One of the most alarming aspects of the situation, according to Erdem, is the apparent lack of widespread public opposition to Turkey’s actions. He attributed this silence to the repressive measures of the KDP and its leader, Masoud Barzani. Erdem argued that fear of reprisals prevents many from speaking out against Turkey’s military presence in the region.
“Few regimes in the world are as despotic and oppressive as Barzani’s,” Erdem wrote. “People live in constant fear of death, unable to criticise the KDP or take action.”
This atmosphere of fear and repression, Erdem argued, has stifled any meaningful opposition to Turkey’s growing influence in Iraqi Kurdistan. He pointed out that while there is some public anger, it is often subdued by the threat of violent retribution.
Long-term impact on the Kurdish conflict
Erdem expressed scepticism that Turkey’s military operations would lead to long-term stability in the region, as claimed by the KDP and the Iraqi government. He argued that Turkey’s territorial gains would not end the conflict with the PKK, but would simply move the frontline deeper into Iraqi Kurdistan.
“Moving the border 25-40 kilometres to the south won’t end the war between the Turkish state and the PKK,” Erdem wrote. “If we assume that the conflict is limited to the border, then moving the border won’t stop the war. Both sides will still have the means to fight.”
The article concluded with a call to resist the Turkish occupation and the perceived betrayal of the KDP and Iraqi authorities. Erdem emphasised that recognising the reality of the occupation and taking an active stance against it is crucial to preserving Kurdish autonomy and resisting foreign domination. “Let us understand the truth of what is happening in the Medya defence zones. Let us not fall for the lies of the AKP-MHP, Iraq and the KDP,” he wrote. “The occupation and annexation must not succeed”.
