Politics
Türkiye charts road map for PKK’s disarmament
Details of an updated road map for the terrorist group PKK’s disarmament as part of the terror-free Türkiye initiative are gradually emerging.
The PKK has announced that it has fully withdrawn from Türkiye, completing the first stage of the dissolution plan.
Security sources say there are four caves in the Zap region in Iraq, and the PKK announced its withdrawal from these areas. Security units inspected the region and confirmed the pullout. The group left behind all weapons, ammunition and logistical materials in the caves. The abandoned items were destroyed. Zap has been a PKK stronghold for years, and the PKK’s withdrawal there indicates a tangible step toward complete disarmament of the terrorist group. In northern Iraq’s Metina region, two caves remain and the withdrawal there is expected to be completed in the coming weeks. Once this is done, the entire Operation Claw-Lock area will be cleared of terrorism. These regions have historically seen the most intense clashes. Operation Claw-Lock was launched in 2022 by the Turkish army to put a definitive end to the PKK’s presence in northern Iraq, and it largely succeeded in driving away the PKK elements in the region.
The next stage involves emptying the Gara and Hakurk regions and the handover of weapons. These two regions in Iraq have also been targets of Turkish counterterrorism operations in the past.
PKK members positioned along the Sinjar-Makhmour corridor in Iraq, where logistical support is provided to the group’s Syria branch, will also turn in their weapons.
Security sources say the Qandil mountains, where senior cadres of the PKK are hiding out in northern Iraq, is considered a less problematic area. The status of senior members will be clarified through laws to be issued by Türkiye. They will not be permitted to remain in Iraq, Syria or Türkiye. Sending the group’s leaders to Scandinavian countries is among the options being considered.
According to government officials, the disarmament process is nearing completion from the PKK’s side, but some issues persist in Syria. Türkiye has made progress with U.S. officials regarding the group’s structure in Syria. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has shown resistance, but this resistance is reportedly weakening. U.S. military support has been vital for the PKK’s Syria wing, YPG, which carved out a self-styled autonomy for itself in northeastern Syria during the Syrian civil war. Though it is a significant ally of Türkiye, the U.S. has justified its assistance to the YPG as part of an operation for a joint fight against the terrorist group Daesh in Syria.
In the meantime, Positive developments regarding the SDF are expected soon. The SDF is an umbrella body formed by the YPG and several Syrian Arab tribes. The YPG is a dominant force in the group. Roughly 70% of the SDF is made up of Arab tribes, and Türkiye is in contact with these groups.
In areas vacated by the PKK, inventories of the weapons and ammunition left behind were compiled. No heavy weapons were found, officials said. All materials are being logged and destroyed.
Within the PKK, about 30% of the group still resist disarmament. The National Intelligence Organization (MIT) holds information on roughly 85% of the group’s members. This list, prepared in coordination with Iraqi authorities, identifies those involved in crimes and those who are not.
Officials assess that the vast majority were not involved in crimes. They attribute this to Türkiye’s counterterrorism successes over the past eight to 10 years. As the PKK’s presence has been eliminated inside and outside Türkiye, the group’s ability to carry out attacks has also diminished.
Türkiye’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) on Friday strongly condemned Israel’s plans to advance new settlement construction in the occupied West Bank, warning that the move would further undermine prospects for a two-state solution.
AK Party spokesperson Ömer Çelik said Israel’s planned tenders for new housing units were part of what he described as an effort to “Gazify” the West Bank and dispossess Palestinians.
“We strongly condemn Israel’s plan to launch tenders for new occupier-settler housing construction in another part of the occupied West Bank,” Çelik said in a statement on social media.
He said Israel’s E1 settlement plan represented a “new and dangerous phase,” arguing that its implementation would effectively divide the West Bank and isolate East Jerusalem.
“This aggression aims to effectively split the West Bank in two and isolate East Jerusalem. It also seeks to destroy the prospect of a two-state solution,” Çelik noted.
Çelik also criticized the use of the terms “settlement” and “settler,” describing Israeli settlement activity as occupation and calling on the international community to take coordinated action.
He said that for years President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had drawn attention to Israel’s territorial policies at the United Nations and other international platforms.
Çelik urged countries to take “joint and concrete steps” against Israel’s actions.
Seven Western countries on Thursday also condemned Israel’s decision to issue construction tenders for 1,234 new housing units under the controversial E1 settlement project.
“The Israeli government’s decision to publish construction tenders for the E1 settlement project is unacceptable,” the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, the Netherlands and Norway said in a joint statement.
The statement said the international community has long opposed settlement expansion in the area and has repeatedly raised serious concerns with Israel both privately and publicly.
“The E1 settlement would undermine the viability of a two-state solution by dividing the West Bank and damaging the territorial contiguity of Palestinian territory,” it said.
The E1 project, located in the occupied West Bank east of Jerusalem, has long drawn international criticism over concerns that construction in the area would sever links between East Jerusalem and other parts of the West Bank.
The seven countries reiterated their opposition to settlement expansion and warned against steps that could further erode the prospects for a negotiated settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The E1 project was launched to connect the Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, built near the Palestinian town of al-Eizariya, to a road leading to West Jerusalem. Al-Eizariya was historically part of East Jerusalem but lies on the West Bank side of Israel’s separation barrier.
As part of the project, Israel seized some 12,000 dunams (about 3,000 acres) of Palestinian land in 1999 for the planned construction of more than 4,000 settlement housing units and hotels.
Illegal E1 project
The E1 project, widely seen as a major obstacle to the establishment of a contiguous Palestinian state, had previously been frozen amid pressure from successive U.S. administrations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved the E1 project in September 2025, a move that would effectively divide the occupied West Bank into northern and southern sections.
Through the project, Israel seeks to sever territorial links between occupied East Jerusalem and Palestinian areas in the West Bank, further undermining the territorial contiguity of a future Palestinian state.
The Israeli government recently published the first tender for 1,234 housing units under the E1 project without prior notification to parties that had filed objections, despite an earlier commitment to provide such notice.
Türkiye’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu on Friday condemned Israel’s strike on Syria’s Abu al-Duhur military air base and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s subsequent remarks on Türkiye, calling them a threat to Turkish sovereignty and regional stability.
In a statement on social media, Kılıçdaroğlu said Netanyahu’s assertion that Israel had “sent a message to Türkiye” amounted to an “open provocation” against the sovereignty of the Republic of Türkiye.
“No state, especially Israel, can use language suggesting that it can ‘bring Türkiye into line’ or ‘teach it a lesson,’” Kılıçdaroğlu said, describing such rhetoric as unacceptable toward a sovereign state.
He argued that the Israeli strike and Netanyahu’s remarks risk disrupting the fragile balance in Syria, escalating tensions and further destabilizing the region.
Kılıçdaroğlu said Türkiye’s national interests and regional stability required a determined but measured response, stressing that Ankara should maintain its position based on sovereignty and international law.
“Israel’s reckless attitude is a threat not only to Türkiye but to the entire region,” he stressed.
Kılıçdaroğlu also warned that continued Israeli military actions could push the wider region toward deeper conflict and instability.
The strikes by Israeli warplanes targeted Tuesday the disused Abu al-Duhur Military Air Base, located in northeastern Syria’s Idlib. According to Syrian officials, Israeli aircraft launched eight separate strikes on the facility, damaging its runway and striking a derelict structure inside a hangar.
The death toll in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza has climbed to 73,417, with another 10 Palestinians killed and 25 others wounded over the past 24 hours, the Health Ministry said Thursday.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held separate phone calls with his Egyptian and Saudi counterparts to coordinate regional diplomacy, focusing on obstacles to implementing the Gaza peace plan, developments in Syria and tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz.
Fidan spoke with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan al Saud as part of Türkiye’s ongoing diplomatic contacts over recent developments in the region, he said Thursday in a post on the Turkish social media platform NSosyal.
The three countries discussed problems that have emerged in the implementation of the Gaza peace plan and possible steps they could take in response, according to Fidan.
The ministers also reviewed the latest developments in Syria and reaffirmed their strong support for efforts to establish lasting peace and stability in the country.
The talks additionally covered the situation in the Strait of Hormuz and the latest stage of negotiations between the countries involved in the regional dispute.
Fidan said Türkiye, Egypt and Saudi Arabia would continue strengthening cooperation and coordination across all areas as three countries seeking peace and prosperity in the region.
Türkiye’s anti-disinformation body rejected claims that certain social groups have been systematically targeted in recent operations and denied reports suggesting new restrictions have been imposed on minority schools.
The Center for Countering Disinformation (DMM), under the Turkish Presidency’s Directorate of Communications, said claims circulating on some social media platforms alleging that “certain social structures have been systematically and categorically targeted” in recent operations contained disinformation.
The center said judicial and administrative proceedings were not conducted on the basis of the name, nature or social affiliation of any group.
“All judicial and administrative processes are carried out by the competent authorities in accordance with relevant legislation, based on concrete incidents, unlawful acts and evidence obtained,” the DMM said.
It urged the public to rely on official statements and disregard what it described as deliberately circulated manipulative content.
Last week, Justice Minister Akın Gürlek noted recent investigations into organized crime groups target criminal acts rather than religious beliefs or communities.
“The fundamental criterion here is not the identity of any belief, religious structure or community, but criminal acts and structures connected to those acts,” Gürlek said in a social media statement. “Faith and religious values can in no way be turned into an instrument or shield for criminal activities.”
In a separate statement, the DMM also rejected reports suggesting that minority schools in Türkiye were being subjected to specific restrictions.
The center said posts circulating on some social media accounts and in media outlets that created the impression that minority schools were being “specifically targeted through various restrictions” contained disinformation and risked undermining social peace and cohesion.
No new measures beyond provisions already stipulated under relevant legislation have been introduced for minority schools, the DMM said.
It added that the schools continue their education and teaching activities.
Türkiye’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) spokesperson Ömer Çelik on Tuesday sharply criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing his government of fueling instability and conflict across the region.
“The Netanyahu ‘genocide network’ means nothing but more chaos and massacres for the entire region,” Çelik stressed in a statement on social media.
Çelik said Netanyahu has increasingly targeted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as he faces mounting pressure in Israeli domestic politics, arguing that the attacks stem from Erdoğan’s vocal opposition to Israel’s actions in the region.
He said Erdoğan’s stance represents what he described as an “alliance of humanity” against Israeli policies and called for those responsible for violations to be held accountable under international law.
Çelik also linked Israel’s military actions in Gaza with its policies and operations elsewhere in the region, including the occupied West Bank, Iran, Lebanon and Syria, describing them as parts of the same agenda.
Referring to recent developments in Syria, Çelik accused Israel of targeting the country whenever the government of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa takes steps aimed at strengthening Syria’s territorial and political unity.
“The Netanyahu network’s latest targeting of Syria has once again shown that Israeli policies are the greatest enemy of the peace and stability of the peoples of the region,” Çelik said.
He urged the international community to respond collectively to Israel’s actions in Syria and elsewhere in the region.
“Standing against the Netanyahu network means defending the dignity of all humanity,” Çelik said.
Earlier Sunday, Türkiye, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Pakistan, Indonesia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates issued a joint statement holding Israel responsible for obstructing efforts to establish peace in Gaza and the rest of the occupied Palestinian territories.
Israel has continued its genocide in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, killing more than 73,000 Palestinians and wounding more than 174,000, most of them women and children. The offensive has also caused widespread destruction, damaging about 90% of the territory’s infrastructure.
Since Monday, the Israeli army has also continued earthmoving operations and work to reopen an old dirt road north of Wadi al-Raqad from the direction of Mariya village, using a bulldozer accompanied by a tank and a pickup truck, SANA said.
Southern Syria has witnessed recurring Israeli incursions and attacks for months, including raids, searches and arrests.
Türkiye on Wednesday marked World Humanitarian Day by stressing the need to protect United Nations personnel and humanitarian workers and ensure the rapid, safe and unhindered delivery of aid to people in need, with officials drawing particular attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
In a statement marking Aug. 19, which was designated World Humanitarian Day by the U.N. General Assembly in 2008, the Foreign Ministry underscored the importance of safeguarding humanitarian personnel working in conflict zones.
The ministry said the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, at a time when a record number of humanitarian workers have been killed while carrying out their duties, demonstrates the critical importance of the principles represented by World Humanitarian Day, including the responsibility to save lives and protect civilians and aid workers.
“On the occasion of Aug. 19 World Humanitarian Day, we commemorate with gratitude U.N. personnel and humanitarian workers who lost their lives after being targeted while carrying out their duties,” the ministry noted.
Türkiye will continue working to deliver humanitarian assistance to those in need in Gaza and other parts of the world in line with its “people-centered foreign policy,” it added.
Presidential Communications Director Burhanettin Duran also marked the day, saying the international community was going through a period in which the “global conscience” was being severely tested.
Duran pointed to Gaza, where tens of thousands of people, many of them women and children, have been killed and access to basic necessities remains severely restricted, while humanitarian workers have also been targeted.
“Wherever they may be in the world, we will continue to stand with those facing oppression and extend a helping hand to those in need,” Duran said.
He also thanked humanitarian workers who put human life above all else and expressed hope for a world where humanitarian assistance is not obstructed, civilians are protected and justice is upheld.
Through its state and non-state organizations and institutions Türkiye has been a leading international donor of humanitarian assistance. Turkish assistance has been delivered to across five continents through operations coordinated by the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD). The assistance, including providing food, shelter, medical supplies, financial assistance and search and rescue equipment to regions affected by wars and natural disasters, has reached to more than 85 countries and communities worldwide.
Among these operations, Gaza has been the largest recipient of Turkish international humanitarian assistance, where AFAD has coordinated the delivery of 109,332 tons of aid through 14 aircraft and 21 ships following Israeli attacks on the enclave.
In addition, AFAD dispatched 25 “Kindness Trains” carrying 11,739 tons of humanitarian supplies to Afghanistan, alongside six cargo flights; in Sudan, six ships delivered 10,206 tons of aid and 30,000 tents, while Pakistan received 9,079 tons of humanitarian assistance. Additional shipments included 3,000 tons of aid to Somalia and 730 tons to Lebanon.
Nearly 15,000 humanitarian aid trucks have also crossed into Syria, making it one of Türkiye’s largest long-term relief operations.
More recent disaster response missions have included 30 tons of humanitarian aid sent to Venezuela following the powerful earthquakes that struck the country in June. The shipment, transported aboard two military cargo aircraft, included 275 tents and 7 tons of medical supplies. Türkiye also supported Spain after severe flooding by sending 250 large-capacity waste containers and two street-cleaning vehicles to assist recovery efforts.
Alongside AFAD, the Turkish Red Crescent (Kızılay) and other Turkish humanitarian organizations have expanded Türkiye’s global relief efforts. Kızılay said it reached 32.9 million people worldwide in 2025, including 11.2 million people abroad, delivering more than 20,000 tons of humanitarian aid and over 10 million hot meals in Gaza while continuing operations in Syria, Sudan, Afghanistan, Niger and Uganda.
During Ramadan 2026, Kızılay carried out humanitarian operations in 21 countries, providing iftar and sahur meals, food packages and emergency relief. In Gaza alone, it served 60,000 people daily through soup kitchens, while its 21st “Ship of Goodness” delivered aid to Egypt’s al-Arish Port for onward transport into the enclave. The organization also distributed assistance in Yemen, Sudan, Afghanistan, Somalia, Iraq and Syria.
Meanwhile, the Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) and the Türkiye Diyanet Foundation announced Ramadan aid programs spanning 66 and 86 countries.
Kızılay also dispatched 48 tons of humanitarian aid to Iran in April after receiving a request from the Iranian Red Crescent. The four-truck convoy carried shelter materials, hygiene kits and trauma supplies for civilians affected by ongoing attacks, with the organization saying further assistance would continue in line with humanitarian needs.
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