A Turkish drone strike on Saturday night resulted in the deaths of three members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), including a high-ranking PKK official, according to Iraqi Kurdistan’s counter-terrorism service. The strike, which took place near the northern province of Dohuk, represents Türkiye’s ongoing military campaign targeting PKK forces in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region, an operation that has intensified in recent years and drawn both regional and international scrutiny.
The Turkish strike reportedly targeted a vehicle in the mountainous region near Dohuk. According to Iraqi Kurdistan’s counter-terrorism service, the PKK members killed included one senior PKK leader, although further details about the official’s identity were not disclosed. The operation demonstrates Türkiye’s reliance on drone technology to pursue PKK targets in Iraq, particularly in the rugged northern terrain where PKK fighters are known to operate.
In response to the strike, local officials in Iraqi Kurdistan expressed concern over Türkiye’s repeated incursions. While Baghdad and Iraq’s Kurdish regional government have historically condemned Turkish airstrikes on Iraqi soil, they face challenges in effectively curbing Türkiye’s actions. For Türkiye, these operations are part of a broader national security policy aimed at weakening the PKK’s operational capacity in Iraq, which Ankara argues poses a direct threat to Turkish citizens and border security.
“This strike is another escalation in Türkiye’s campaign against PKK fighters in the region,” said a spokesperson from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). “While we understand Türkiye’s security concerns, the sovereignty of Iraq must be respected.” Turkish officials have not publicly responded to Saturday’s strike, although Ankara has previously defended its military presence and operations in Iraq as essential for its counter-terrorism efforts.
Türkiye has conducted a sustained military campaign against the PKK in northern Iraq for over a decade, including airstrikes, ground incursions, and the establishment of outposts to monitor and engage PKK movements. Drone warfare, in particular, has become a key feature of Türkiye’s operations, allowing Ankara to strike high-value PKK targets while minimizing risks to Turkish personnel.
The PKK, which Türkiye, the United States, and the European Union classify as a terrorist organization, has a long history of insurgent activities against the Turkish state, beginning with its initial goal of establishing an independent Kurdish state in 1984. Since then, the PKK has shifted its objectives toward advocating for greater Kurdish rights and autonomy, especially in Türkiye’s southeastern regions, where the Kurdish population is concentrated.
In recent years, Türkiye has increasingly relied on drones to target PKK strongholds. The use of drones has allowed the Turkish military to gather intelligence, monitor movements, and conduct precision strikes on PKK members without the need for a significant ground presence. Experts note that drone strikes provide Türkiye with a tactical advantage, particularly in the mountainous border areas that are difficult to access by land.
“The use of drones has transformed Türkiye’s ability to target PKK members in these remote regions,” said Dr. Can Kasapoglu, a defense analyst specializing in Türkiye’s military operations. “It’s a cost-effective and efficient method, enabling Türkiye to carry out these operations with minimal diplomatic backlash or personnel risk.”
The PKK insurgency began in 1984, fueled by Kurdish demands for independence or, at the very least, greater autonomy within Türkiye. The Kurdish population, primarily located in Türkiye’s southeast, has long faced issues related to ethnic discrimination, economic disenfranchisement, and restrictions on language and cultural expression. Over the decades, the PKK has shifted its objectives, with its current goals focusing on Kurdish rights and limited autonomy rather than full independence.
Despite Türkiye’s military measures, the PKK has managed to maintain a presence in southeastern Türkiye and northern Iraq, benefiting from the support of Kurdish sympathizers and difficult terrain that complicates counter-insurgency operations. The Iraqi region, especially the areas governed by the KRG, has been a strategic base for PKK operations. The complex political landscape, with Iraq’s Kurdish region maintaining semi-autonomous governance, has allowed the PKK to establish footholds that Türkiye considers a national security threat.
Türkiye’s frequent incursions into Iraqi territory have strained relations between Ankara and Baghdad. Although Türkiye justifies these actions by pointing to the threat posed by PKK operations based in Iraq, the Iraqi government, along with the KRG, has repeatedly condemned these cross-border strikes as violations of Iraqi sovereignty.
The KRG faces a difficult balancing act in managing relations with Türkiye, a key economic partner, while addressing internal concerns about sovereignty and civilian safety. Kurdish officials worry that continued strikes could destabilize the region, undermining efforts to maintain security and economic development in Iraq’s Kurdish areas. Although Türkiye has attempted to diplomatically justify its actions, the repeated strikes have prompted calls within Iraq for more assertive measures to curb Türkiye’s military footprint.
The Kurdistan Regional Government maintains a complex economic relationship with Türkiye, relying on Turkish investment, trade, and infrastructure development. Türkiye’s investments in Iraq’s Kurdish region, particularly in oil exports and construction, make Ankara a critical economic partner for the KRG. For this reason, Iraqi Kurdish officials are often cautious in responding to Türkiye’s military actions, balancing the need to address public concerns with the practical economic implications of alienating Türkiye.
“Türkiye is a vital partner for us, not only in terms of trade but also in developing infrastructure,” said a senior KRG economic advisor, emphasizing the difficulty of pushing back against Turkish incursions. “However, there is a growing concern that these military operations are eroding the stability we have worked hard to achieve.”
The use of drone strikes, while effective in targeting PKK members, has raised humanitarian concerns. Civilian casualties, damage to local infrastructure, and the psychological impact on communities have drawn criticism from both local and international observers. Human rights organizations have urged Türkiye to exercise greater restraint and improve transparency in its operations.
The repeated strikes have led some residents in affected areas to relocate, fearing for their safety amid ongoing military operations. “We’re seeing an increasing number of villagers choosing to leave their homes due to these airstrikes,” a local Iraqi Kurdish official explained. “For those who stay, there is a constant fear that another strike might hit their community.”
Internationally, Türkiye’s actions have garnered mixed reactions. The United States and the European Union, while recognizing the PKK as a terrorist organization, have called on Türkiye to consider diplomatic solutions and exercise caution in its counter-insurgency campaign. Washington, in particular, has urged Türkiye to coordinate with Iraq and the KRG, to avoid unintended consequences for Iraq’s stability.
Human rights advocates have argued that Türkiye’s military operations violate international law, pointing to the sovereignty implications and civilian harm resulting from repeated airstrikes. “While Türkiye has legitimate security concerns, the repeated airstrikes raise questions about proportionality and accountability,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, a spokesperson for a Middle Eastern human rights organization.
The decades-long conflict between Türkiye and the PKK shows little sign of abating, despite periodic ceasefire attempts and discussions. Recent years have seen renewed violence as Türkiye intensifies its efforts to dismantle the PKK’s operational bases, both within its borders and in neighboring Iraq. For many, the conflict represents a vicious cycle, with military actions leading to further hostilities.
Some analysts believe that a lasting peace solution would require significant concessions from both sides, including increased political autonomy and cultural rights for Kurds in Türkiye and the PKK’s renunciation of violence. However, achieving such a settlement remains a challenging prospect, particularly given the geopolitical stakes and complex relationships within the region.
The Iraqi government, already grappling with internal security concerns and political divisions, is limited in its capacity to address Türkiye’s incursions. With both Türkiye and Iran conducting military operations within Iraqi territory against Kurdish groups, Iraq finds itself struggling to assert its sovereignty. The Iraqi government has repeatedly appealed to the international community for support in maintaining its territorial integrity, though responses have been limited.
The Kurdish regions of Iraq and Türkiye have long represented complex security challenges for their respective governments and for regional players. The KRG’s partial autonomy and its alignment with Western interests, particularly in the fight against ISIS, complicates the PKK’s role within Iraqi Kurdistan. The KRG has distanced itself from the PKK, emphasizing its desire for peaceful relations with Türkiye.
Despite these efforts, the KRG’s alignment with Türkiye on economic grounds has not prevented Türkiye from conducting strikes within Kurdish regions, underscoring the volatile security dynamics that exist between Ankara and Iraq’s Kurdish areas.
