Türkiye detains 65 PKK supporters during operation Gürz-36 VIDEO

A major anti-terror operation, Gürz-36, was conducted across 17 provinces in Türkiye, leading to the detention of 65 individuals with suspected ties to the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) terrorist organization.

The operation targeted suspects involved in various aspects of the PKK’s activities, including financial support and the dissemination of propaganda, Caliber.Az reports.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced the details of the operation on his social media platform X, confirming that the raids took place in major cities such as Istanbul, Adana, and Izmir.

17 ilde PKK/KCK’ya yönelik son 1 haftadır devam eden “GÜRZ-36 operasyonlarında; 65 Şüpheli Terör Örgütü Mensubu yakalandı ❗️

Çatışmanın, şiddetin, istikrarsızlığın tamamen tarihe karıştığı “Terörsüz Türkiye” hedefimiz için mücadelemize kararlılıkla devam ediyoruz❗️

🚩Adana,… pic.twitter.com/nAz9HQZSgU

— Ali Yerlikaya (@AliYerlikaya) January 7, 2025

According to the report, the detainees were implicated in aiding the PKK, providing financial resources to the group, and using social media to promote the organization’s terrorist agenda.

Authorities also seized unlicensed firearms and digital materials during the operation, further reinforcing the scale of the operation's success in disrupting the PKK’s infrastructure within Türkiye.

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