In a dramatic shift toward peace, fighters from the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) set fire to their weapons during a symbolic ceremony in northern Iraq early Friday. The move follows the group’s May decision to disarm after 40 years of armed conflict with Turkiye’s government. 🕊️
Footage shared online shows militants tossing guns and ammunition into flames in the mountains near Sulaymaniyah—a region that has sheltered the PKK for over a decade. The event marks a pivotal moment in a conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives since the 1980s.
The disarmament comes after jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocelan declared the end of the armed struggle via video link from Imrali prison. "The time has come to replace weapons with democratic politics," he told supporters, urging a new chapter focused on legal and political solutions.
Analysts say the move could reshape regional dynamics, but questions linger: Will Turkiye reciprocate with peace talks? Can decades of distrust be overcome? For now, the flames in Iraq’s mountains offer a fragile hope—and a viral moment for Gen Z peace advocates scrolling TikTok. 📱✨
