PKK/YPG members continue to surrender to Turkish forces in northern Iraq

Members of the PKK/YPG/PYD terrorist group continue to surrender to Turkish security forces amid ongoing military operations in northern Iraq’s Claw Lock operation region.

According to security sources, recent footage shows terrorists surrendering during search and sweep operations carried out by the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) during Ramadan Bayram, also known as Eid al-Fitr.

The rising number of surrenders is reportedly linked to communication breakdowns between PKK/YPG members and their senior operatives, leaving the terrorists isolated and without essential supplies such as food and water.

PKK/YPG members continue to surrender to Turkish forces in northern Iraq — A screengrab from a video shows Turkish commandos destroying the caves where the terrorists were hiding using rocket launchers and grenades as part of Operation Claw-Lock in the Zap region of northern Iraq, Nov. 30, 2022. (Turkish Ministry of Defense – Anadolu Agency)

Testimonies reveal internal collapse

One of the surrendered individuals reportedly stated during initial questioning that the group is in a critical condition, with leaders failing to provide support.

The terrorist member described being left in dire circumstances, citing hunger and poor conditions as key reasons for surrender.

Security officials note that such accounts are becoming increasingly common, suggesting deeper organizational disruptions within the PKK/YPG ranks.

Turkish operations ongoing through Eid al-Fitr period

The Turkish Armed Forces continue their counterterrorism operations in the Claw Lock area during religious holidays, aiming to secure strategic regions and prevent terrorist regrouping.

The operation, ongoing since 2022, targets logistics routes and hideouts of PKK-linked groups in northern Iraq.

Türkiye considers the PKK, along with its Syrian branches PYD and YPG, as terrorist organizations and has intensified military pressure in cross-border regions.

The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the U.S., and the EU, has waged a 40-year terror campaign against Türkiye, resulting in the deaths of over 40,000 people, including women, children, and the elderly. The YPG is the PKK’s affiliate in Syria.