The Kurdistan Workers' Party announced on Thursday 8 October 2026 that it had withdrawn all its fighters from Turkish territory, explaining that the operation had been carried out several days before it was disclosed. The announcement came in the context of a peace process that the party said began in 2024, alongside criticism of Ankara over its performance in the process.
The party links the withdrawal to the stalled peace process
According to the party's account, the withdrawal included all its fighters inside Turkish territory. The party said the move had been carried out several days before the announcement, meaning Thursday's statement disclosed a withdrawal it said had already been completed, rather than an operation that began on the day the announcement was issued. Alongside announcing its departure from Turkish territory, the Kurdistan Workers' Party accused Ankara of inaction in the peace process.
This characterisation remains a position attributed to the party, which directly linked its criticism to the process that began in 2024, according to statements reported by a Kurdish news agency.
The party's announcement combined confirmation that its fighters had been withdrawn from Turkey with a message criticising Ankara over the peace process. The key point regarding timing is that, according to the party, the withdrawal preceded Thursday's statement by several days and did not coincide with its release.
