The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a militant group designated as a terrorist organisation by the UK and its allies, has announced it will disband after waging a 40-year insurgency against Turkey.
The decision follows a call from the group's imprisoned leader, Abdullah Ocalan, who urged the PKK to lay down its arms two months ago.
Ocalan reportedly stated there was "no longer any reason" for the armed struggle to continue.
The militant group has been fighting Turkish forces since 1984, with the conflict claiming more than 40,000 lives.
The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a militant group designated as a terrorist organisation by the UK and its allies, has announced it will disband after waging a 40-year insurgency against Turkey
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The announcement could mark the end of one of Turkey's most enduring security challenges.
The PKK was originally formed with the aim of creating an independent Kurdish state.
This goal reflected the aspirations of Turkey's Kurdish population, which makes up approximately 20 per cent of the country's citizens.
However, in recent years, the group's objectives shifted towards securing greater rights for Kurds within Turkey rather than full independence.
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The disbanding of the PKK could potentially end one of Turkey's most persistent security problems
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Turkey has consistently taken military action against the organisation, repeatedly bombarding PKK strongholds in northern Iraq.
These operations have extended to strikes against Kurdish militias in north-eastern Syria as well.
The group's dissolution could have significant implications for Kurdish militias across the region, particularly those in Syria who maintain alliances with US forces.
The disbanding of the PKK could potentially end one of Turkey's most persistent security problems.
The decision may have far-reaching consequences across the region, particularly affecting other Kurdish militias.
This is especially significant for Kurdish forces in Syria, who have established alliances with US forces.
Turkey has long viewed all Kurdish militant groups as interconnected threats to its national security.
Turkey has long viewed all Kurdish militant groups as interconnected threats to its national security
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The Turkish military has conducted operations against both PKK positions in northern Iraq and Kurdish militias in north-eastern Syria.
With the PKK's dissolution, questions remain about how this will affect Turkey's military strategy in the region and its approach to Kurdish populations.
The announcement represents a historic shift in a conflict that has shaped Turkish politics and regional dynamics for four decades.
