Damascus: The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has announced a ceasefire after its imprisoned leader, Abdullah Ocalan, urged the group to lay down arms. The declaration, published by the Firat News Agency—known for its ties to the PKK—states that the ceasefire takes effect immediately.
"We are ceasing armed actions as of today to support Leader Apo's call for peace and a democratic society. Our forces will not engage unless they come under attack," the statement read.
The PKK also called on the Turkish government to release Ocalan so he could oversee the disarmament process, stressing that necessary political and democratic conditions must be in place for the peace initiative to succeed.
The conflict between Türkiye and the PKK has been ongoing since 1984, resulting in tens of thousands of casualties. Ocalan, who has been imprisoned since 1999, issued a message on Thursday urging the PKK to disband. His statement, read in both Kurdish and Turkish by pro-Kurdish politicians, urged all armed groups to lay down their weapons.
This latest push for peace follows an initiative led by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s coalition partner, Devlet Bahceli, in October. The far-right leader proposed the possibility of Ocalan’s parole if the PKK abandoned violence and dissolved.
Ocalan remains a central figure within the PKK, and while the group generally follows his directives, some internal factions may resist the peace efforts, according to analysts.
In response to the announcement, celebrations erupted in Qamishli, where crowds danced in the streets and waved flags featuring Ocalan’s image alongside the Kurdish flag.
Mazloum Abdi, commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), hailed the move as a crucial step toward peace. "We welcome this historic call by Abdullah Ocalan, which paves the way for a peaceful political resolution," he posted on social media.
