The Iraqi government has officially banned the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a Kurdish separatist group engaged in a long-standing conflict with Turkey. The PKK, which has been fighting against Turkey since the 1980s, is now prohibited in Iraq following an order issued by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. This move signifies a significant stance by the Iraqi government on the status of the PKK.
Turkey has been urging cooperation from Baghdad in its efforts against the PKK, which has bases in northern Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region. In recent months, Turkey has increased its military presence in northern Iraq and has threatened to launch an offensive against PKK forces along the border.
Although Iraq has not labeled the PKK as a terrorist group like Turkey, it has included the organization in its list of banned entities. The Turkish government has been conducting airstrikes in Syria and Iraq targeting PKK-affiliated sites, leading to tensions with Baghdad over sovereignty violations.
Recently, the Turkish defense ministry reported the killing of four suspected PKK militants in a northern Iraq air offensive. Among them was Yusuf Kalkan, who was wanted by Turkey for alleged involvement in terrorist activities, including founding and leading a terror group.
During Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Iraq in April, discussions were held on joint actions against the PKK. Both governments acknowledged the PKK as a security threat to both Turkey and Iraq, emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts to address the issue.
