In a recent development, an adviser to the Iraqi Prime Minister has confirmed that Turkey’s military operations against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in the Kurdistan Region’s border areas are being carried out in coordination with the Iraqi federal government.

Ibrahim Sumeidi, senior adviser to Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, revealed in a televised interview with a local Iraqi TV channel that there is a collaborative effort between Baghdad and Ankara regarding the Turkish army’s actions in the region. According to Sumeidi, the PKK is involved in "criminal operations," and the Iraqi government has designated the group as a terrorist organization.

This statement follows comments from Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who emphasized the importance of Iraq in Turkey’s strategy to combat the PKK. Fidan noted, “The instability in Iraq has been advantageous to the PKK and other terrorist organizations.” He further pointed out that while the PKK does not control any land in Turkey, it has established significant presence in Iraq and Syria.

Recent weeks have seen an intensification of Turkish military operations in the district of Amedi, which has led to the destruction of dozens of acres of land. The longstanding conflict between Turkey and the PKK, which began in 1984, has resulted in over 60,000 deaths according to unofficial estimates. Both Iraq and Turkey, along with the United States and the European Union, classify the PKK as a terrorist organization.

The presence of PKK bases and headquarters in the Kurdistan Region's border areas has severely impacted local Kurdish communities. More than 800 villages and several tourist areas in Duhok province have been affected, causing considerable damage to the region's tourism and agricultural sectors.

As the situation develops, the coordinated efforts between Iraq and Turkey signal a strategic alliance aimed at addressing the ongoing conflict and reducing the influence of the PKK in the region.