Turkey Calls for Unified Effort to Combat PKK and Islamic State in the Region

ANKARA – Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has urged regional cooperation to eliminate both the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the remnants of the Islamic State (IS) in Iraq and Syria. Speaking in Baghdad on Sunday after high-level talks with Iraqi officials, Fidan emphasized the need for a joint approach to ensure long-term stability in the region.

During a press conference alongside his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein, Fidan reiterated Ankara’s demand for Iraq to formally designate the PKK as a terrorist organization. While Iraq previously classified the PKK as a banned entity, Turkey seeks a stronger stance, citing the group’s operations across Turkish, Iraqi, and Syrian territories.

“The PKK poses a direct threat to the security and future of Turkey, Iraq, and Syria. It is vital for the prosperity of our people that we unite and fight terrorism with all our resources,” Fidan stated. He also highlighted the importance of intelligence sharing and coordinated military operations to tackle threats from both the PKK and IS.

Turkey has long considered the PKK and its Syrian affiliate, the YPG, as existential threats due to their armed campaigns and separatist aspirations. Ankara accuses the YPG, which leads the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), of being an extension of the PKK. Despite their role in defeating IS in Syria, the YPG remains a contentious issue in Turkey’s relations with Western allies.

Fidan’s visit comes at a critical moment, as the fall of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad last month has left Kurdish factions increasingly isolated. Turkey has warned of launching further cross-border operations in Syria unless its security concerns are addressed. “We must destroy Daesh and the PKK together,” Fidan added, using the Arabic acronym for IS.

Turkey’s defense ministry reported on Sunday that its forces had killed 13 PKK militants in airstrikes in northern Iraq. This military action is part of Ankara’s broader campaign to neutralize the PKK’s presence in the region.

While ties between Turkey and Iraq have historically been strained due to Ankara’s incursions into Iraqi territory, recent security dialogues have improved relations. Baghdad’s recognition of the PKK as a banned entity last year marked a significant step toward alignment on counterterrorism. However, Iraqi officials remain cautious about Turkey’s military operations. Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein warned that a Turkish offensive against Kurdish forces in northern Syria could destabilize the region further and trigger a new wave of refugees.

The evolving dynamics in Iraq and Syria underscore the challenges of addressing regional security issues while balancing international alliances and local sensitivities. As Turkey pushes for decisive action, the region faces a delicate balancing act to maintain stability and address overlapping security concerns.