NTV: PKK to vacate camps on Turkish border and leave caves

The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), banned in Türkiye, has initiated the evacuation not only of its armed units from Turkish territory but also of several camps in the border regions of northern Iraq, according to NTV.

The broadcaster reports that the evacuation may affect bases in the Zap and Metina regions of northern Iraq, as well as several caves in the border zone actively used by PKK militants. An earlier PKK statement on withdrawing forces from Türkiye noted that “similar measures are being taken at positions along the border where the risk of clashes or provocations persists.”

NTV highlights that the PKK maintains seven major camps in the mountainous areas along the Iraq-Türkiye border. These facilities, along with hundreds of caves, have repeatedly been targeted by Turkish Armed Forces during the “Claw” series of counterterrorism operations launched in 2019. The camps in Zap and Metina are considered key, heavily fortified strongholds critical to the PKK’s logistics and supply chains supporting operations in Türkiye.

The PKK, designated a terrorist organisation by Türkiye, the U.S., and the EU, has been engaged in a decades-long insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984, seeking greater Kurdish rights and initially an independent state. Founded in 1978 by Abdullah Öcalan, the group has historically operated from southeastern Türkiye’s mountainous regions, such as Diyarbakır and Şırnak, while establishing significant bases in northern Iraq’s Qandil, Zap, and Metina regions. These areas, particularly the rugged terrain of Zap and Metina, have served as logistical hubs for training, arms storage, and cross-border operations due to their proximity to Türkiye and difficult accessibility.

The reported evacuation aligns with the PKK’s October 26, 2025, announcement of a complete withdrawal from Türkiye, following its 12th Congress (May 2025) and Öcalan’s February 2025 call for self-dissolution. This move, coupled with a March 2025 ceasefire and symbolic weapons destruction in July, signals a potential de-escalation. The evacuation of Zap and Metina camps suggests a strategic retreat to avoid further Turkish strikes and reduce border tensions, though it raises questions about the PKK’s future operations and the reintegration of fighters. The fragility of this process hinges on Türkiye’s response and potential reforms addressing Kurdish rights, as unresolved grievances could undermine peace efforts.

By Khagan Isayev