From caves to collapse: Türkiye's new military strategy pushed PKK to lay down arms Article by a Turkish daily /PHOTO/VIDEO

The year 2025 became a turning point when the terrorist organisation PKK convened its congress and decided to dissolve itself.

Following Turkish Armed Forces operations launched in Syria and northern Iraq, new military outposts and national weaponry became key factors in the PKK's capitulation, according to an article published by the Turkish daily Türkiye.

The Turkish Armed Forces changed their strategy in conducting operations against the PKK terrorists, carrying them out much more effectively both on land and from the air compared to previous years.

The process that rendered it impossible for the terrorist organisation to emerge from their caves began on August 24, 2016. Türkiye conducted the operations “Euphrates Shield,” “Spring Shield,” “Olive Branch,” and “Peace Spring” in Syria. As a result of these operations, “buffer zones” were established.

In March 2018, the Turkish Armed Forces launched the “Tigris Shield” operation in northern Iraq. The Hakurk region was largely brought under control as a result of this cross-border operation against the PKK.

During previous operations, ground and air forces would strike specific targets and then withdraw. However, this time the Turkish army did not retreat, and in 2019, a series of “Claw-Tiger” operations began in Iraq, with military bases established in certain regions.

By changing their counter-terrorism concept, the Turkish Armed Forces implemented a strategy aimed at securing the borders from the front lines and eliminating terrorism at its source. This led to one of Türkiye’s most significant achievements in its fight against PKK terrorism.

The Turkish army took control of Zap — the most important PKK stronghold in northern Iraq, which the terrorist organisation had declared “inaccessible and untouchable.” This marked the beginning of the organisation’s collapse.

The effective use of drones, which entered 21st-century military terminology as the "Turkish Doctrine," deprived the terrorists of the ability to leave the caves where they were hiding.

Intelligence gathered by drones from the region also reduced Türkiye’s dependence on the United States, and the terrorists’ connections with their so-called leaders were severed. With the closure of the corridor in the Zap province, the clearing operation began. To date, a total of 3,578 terrorist caves and hideouts have been rendered unusable.

While ground operations were in full swing, diplomacy also came into play. Last year, for the first time, Ankara and Baghdad began speaking in terms of a "joint struggle" against the terrorist organisation. The Baghdad administration officially recognised the PKK as an organisation targeting Türkiye from Iraqi territory and declared it a banned group.

The terrorist organisation, already unable to leave its caves due to ongoing military operations, found itself even more cornered following the collapse of the Assad regime and Iraq’s retreat.

Another key element in the fight against terrorism is border security. Of the 1,471 kilometres of the high-risk Syrian-Iranian border, 1,168 kilometres of security walls have been completed—approximately 80 per cent of the total border—along with 1,254 kilometres of patrol roads, covering about 85 per cent of the border.

Border security was further enhanced by the completion of approximately 33 kilometres of dams and 23.5 kilometres of high-security panel fencing along the Habur and Hezil rivers on the border with Iraq.

By Khagan Isayev