Twelve Days in Kobane, Where Syrian Kurds Are Under Attack by Turkey
InterceptFEB 19
Report: PKK Pledges to Dissolve
Above: A demonstrator holds a poster of Abdullah Ocalan, the leader of the Kurdish armed organization Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), during the Newruz celebration on March 21, 2025, in Newroz Square, Diyarbakir, Turkey. Image copyright: Mehmet Masum Suer/Contributor/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
The PKK's rumored decision to stand down would represent a beacon of hope for Iraqis and Turks. This move could end decades of violence, fostering stability in Turkey and northern Iraq, where Turkish-PKK clashes have displaced many. Peace talks, not militantism, offer a path to resolve Kurdish grievances. A negotiated settlement can heal wounds, boost regional security, and prove that dialogue, not arms, is the solution for lasting peace.
Narrative B
Turkey's ongoing repression of Kurds, including jailing DEM Party members and bombing Kurdish sites in Iraq and Syria, undermines the PKK's ceasefire and Ocalan’s peace call. For Iraqis and Turks, peace requires Turkey to stop military aggression and grant Kurdish rights, not just demand PKK disarmament. The PKK's shift to non-violence shows militantism isn't the issue —Turkey's refusal to reform is the barrier to stability.
Establishment-critical narrative
The PKK's ceasefire is futile as the U.S. and Israel fuel Turkey-Kurd strife. The U.S. arms the SDF, provoking Turkish airstrikes, then abandons Kobane to maintain Syria’s chaos for control. Meanwhile, Israel backs Kurdish autonomy to counter Turkey and Iran, stoking Ankara's fears. For Iraqis and Turks, peace is a mirage as these powers prioritize dominance. Militantism isn't the issue — U.S.-Israeli schemes are.