First Comment from SDF on Öcalan’s Announcement
In a significant statement, Mazloum Abdi, the commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), responded to the recent declaration by Abdullah Öcalan, leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Abdi remarked, “If peace is achieved in Turkey, it means there is no justification for continued attacks against us in Syria.”
He further clarified the SDF’s stance, stating, “Öcalan’s announcement pertains solely to the PKK and has no connection to us in Syria.” Abdi emphasized the positive nature of the declaration, noting, “The announcement is a step forward as it calls for ending the war and initiating a peaceful political process within Turkey.”
On Thursday, Öcalan urged his group to lay down its arms and dissolve itself, a message delivered through a letter read by a pro-Kurdish party in Turkey. The announcement was unveiled during a conference held by Turkey’s Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party, where Öcalan underscored his “historic responsibility” for this call to action.
The PKK, classified as a terrorist organization by the European Union and the United States, has been engaged in a decades-long conflict with the Turkish state since the 1980s. The prolonged struggle has claimed tens of thousands of lives.
SDF Announces 12 Killed in Turkish Airstrikes in Northeast Syria
