Kurdish militants leave four northern Iraqi camps amid peace talks with Turkiye

The Kurdistan Workers' Party has pulled out of four camps located in northern Iraq as part of an ongoing peace effort with Turkiye. The camps were vacated on October 8 in the Baze area of the Metina region, which sits close to the Turkish border.

Camps and Background

Turkish state-run media identified the vacated sites as the Hebat, Yajk, Sabri and Sason camps. The militant group began its armed insurgency in 1984, leading to tens of thousands of deaths over more than four decades of conflict. Last year, the group decided to disarm and disband following an appeal by its imprisoned leader, Abdullah Ocalan.

Legal Steps and Pardons

The Turkish parliament approved a bill in August that offers a conditional pardon to thousands of members. This measure will suspend certain prison sentences and postpone ongoing trials once authorities confirm the group has fully dissolved, though top leaders are excluded from the pardons.

Context

Regional peace processes often involve complex steps like military withdrawals, verified disarmament, and phased legal changes. Turkiye and Iraq have been coordinating on security matters as cross-border militant activities wind down.