Turkey vows to keep cross-border operations against PKK in Iraq and Syria

Turkey will continue military operations against the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, in northern Iraq and Syria, Defence Minister Yasar Guler said on Sunday. He described the group as a threat to Turkey’s national security and signaled that Ankara has no plans to scale back its cross-border campaign.

The announcement underscores Turkey’s long-running effort to pressure PKK positions beyond its borders. Ankara has repeatedly carried out airstrikes and ground operations in areas where PKK fighters are believed to be active, often prompting concern from local communities and rights advocates about the impact on civilians in border regions.

The PKK has fought the Turkish state for decades in a conflict that has killed tens of thousands of people. While Turkey, the United States and the European Union designate the group as a terrorist organization, military action across Iraq and Syria continues to raise regional tensions and complicate already fragile security conditions.

Guler’s comments suggest the campaign will remain a central part of Turkey’s security policy. For civilians living near the areas targeted by these operations, the prospect of continued fighting means more uncertainty, displacement risk and disruption to daily life.