Türkiye announces success of Gürz-37 operation, 147 PKK members detained VIDEO

Türkiye's Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced the successful completion of Operation Gürz-37, which was conducted across 41 provinces in the country.

The operation targeted the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) terrorist organization, resulting in the detention of 147 suspected members of the group, Caliber.Az reports.

According to Yerlikaya's update on social media platform X, the operation, which spanned over the past 10 days, led to 30 arrests, while 17 individuals were placed under judicial control. The suspects were found to be involved in various roles within the terrorist organization, including funding its operations and promoting its ideology via social media platforms.

41 ilde PKK/KCK'ya yönelik Jandarma tarafından son 10 gündür devam eden “GÜRZ-37" operasyonlarında 147 şüpheli Terör Örgütü Mensubu yakalandı❗️

Şüphelilerden;
⛔30‘u tutuklandı.
⛔17’si hakkında adli kontrol kararı verildi. Diğerlerinin işlemleri devam ediyor.

🚩Cumhuriyet… pic.twitter.com/pruGZvigfb

— Ali Yerlikaya (@AliYerlikaya) January 11, 2025

During the operation, authorities seized numerous organizational documents and digital materials that are believed to be connected to terrorist activities and propaganda efforts. The Ministry of Interior emphasized that the operation was a significant step in disrupting the PKK’s network in Türkiye and preventing further destabilizing actions by the group.

The PKK 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