The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) declared on Sunday its decision to withdraw its fighters from Turkey to northern Iraq, emphasizing the need for Ankara to implement legal measures to safeguard the ongoing peace process. This move follows the PKK’s announcement in May to end its armed struggle, heeding a call from its imprisoned leader, Abdullah Ocalan, to resolve the decades-long conflict that has resulted in over 40,000 casualties. In a symbolic act in July, the PKK destroyed a portion of its weapons, underscoring its commitment to peace. During a ceremony in its Qandil Mountains stronghold in northern Iraq, the group formally announced its complete withdrawal from Turkey, expressing its aspiration to establish a “free, democratic, and fraternal” future. The PKK framed this decision as a step toward disarmament and integration, urging the Turkish government to enact legislation facilitating its transition into legitimate political participation. PKK spokesperson Zagros Hiwa highlighted that the withdrawal aligns with Ocalan’s peace plan and stressed the necessity for Turkey to introduce political reforms to support the process. Omer Celik, spokesperson for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling AK Party, lauded the PKK’s decision as a significant milestone in achieving a “terror-free Turkey.” He noted that it would contribute to a “positive framework” for a parliamentary commission tasked with addressing the legal dimensions of the peace process. The PKK, which has primarily operated from bases in northern Iraq after being driven out of southeastern Turkey, has faced persistent Turkish military strikes and the establishment of Turkish outposts. A resolution to the protracted conflict between Turkey and the PKK could have far-reaching regional implications, particularly in Syria, where the US supports Kurdish forces that Ankara associates with the PKK.