Operation Gürz-30 in 19 Turkish provinces leads to 40 PKK members detained VIDEO
Türkiye's Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya has announced that Operation Gürz-30, aimed at dismantling the PKK terrorist organization, was carried out across 19 provinces.
In a post on his social media account X, Yerlikaya said that the operation took place in Adıyaman, Ağrı, Antalya, Ardahan, Aydın, Burdur, Diyarbakır, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Kars, Kilis, Manisa, Mersin, Muğla, Siirt, Şanlıurfa, Şırnak, Tekirdağ, and Van, Caliber.Az reports.
19 ilde PKK/KCK terör örgütüne yönelik son 1 hafta içinde Jandarma tarafından düzenlenen “GÜRZ-30" operasyonlarında; 40 şüpheli terör örgütü mensubu yakalandı❗️
— Ali Yerlikaya (@AliYerlikaya) December 21, 2024
Milletimizin huzuru, birlik ve beraberliği için son terörist etkisiz hale getirilinceye kadar mücadelemize… pic.twitter.com/WoLg77VW5B
A total of 40 suspects were detained, the post by the minister noted.
According to the statement, the detainees were identified as members of the terrorist organization, involved in funding the group and spreading propaganda through their social media accounts.
Authorities seized unlicensed weapons, drugs, organizational documents, and digital materials during the operation.
The PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) has been engaged in a violent insurgency against Türkiye since 1984. It operates primarily from mountainous regions in northern Iraq, near the Turkish border, where it establishes hideouts and training camps. The group has carried out numerous attacks, targeting civilians, military personnel, and infrastructure across Türkiye. Recognised as a terrorist organisation by Türkiye, the United States, and the European Union, the PKK’s violent activities have led to the deaths of over 40,000 people, including innocent civilians, women, children, and the elderly.
The PKK’s ideological foundation stems from its goal of creating an independent Kurdish state or autonomous Kurdish regions within Türkiye. Over time, its tactics have shifted from conventional warfare to asymmetric strategies, including bombings, assassinations, and ambushes. Despite several peace processes, the conflict remains unresolved, with continued instability in the region.
The group's presence in northern Iraq complicates international relations, with Türkiye frequently conducting military operations in pursuit of PKK militants, which strains diplomatic relations between Türkiye and Iraq, as well as Türkiye and other regional actors. The PKK’s enduring presence in the region continues to pose significant challenges to the security and stability of the broader Middle East.
By Vafa Guliyeva