PKK says 478 Turkish troops, 134 Kurdish fighters killed in 2024

DIYARBAKIR/AMED,— The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) reported that 478 Turkish military personnel and 134 Kurdish fighters were killed in clashes throughout 2024, according to its annual “balance sheet of war” released by the People’s Defense Forces (HPG), the group’s military wing.

The HPG statement, shared via the ANF news agency, which is affiliated with the group, detailed 1,124 actions carried out by Kurdish forces during the year. These operations reportedly included 18 successful drone shoot-downs and targeted attacks on Turkish positions. However, Kurdish fighters also sustained significant losses, with 134 fatalities confirmed.

“The Kurdish people and the Kurdistan Freedom Movement entered 2024 with unwavering determination, countering relentless Turkish aggression,” the statement said. It accused Ankara of pursuing policies aimed at the eradication of Kurdish identity, citing the centenary of Turkey’s Republic as a key driver of military escalations.

The PKK alleged that Turkish forces employed advanced weaponry, including prohibited chemical agents and tactical nuclear munitions, in their campaign. The group also accused the AKP-MHP government of attempting to expand its influence beyond Turkey’s current borders, in line with neo-Ottoman ambitions.

The statement praised Kurdish fighters’ resistance efforts, highlighting several commanders and regions where operations reportedly hindered Turkish objectives. The PKK claimed that Turkish forces failed to eliminate Kurdish guerrillas in North Kurdistan [Turkish Kurdistan, Bakur], attributing the outcome to strategic and tactical counterattacks.

In the Medya Defense Areas, located in Iraqi Kurdistan (Bashur), the PKK reported heavy combat against Turkish forces, allegedly supported by the Barzani’s Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Iraqi government. The statement claimed 98 Kurdish fighters died defending these strongholds, while operations inflicted substantial losses on the Turkish military, including nine high-ranking officers.

A separate incident noted was an October 23 attack on TUSAŞ, a Turkish defense manufacturer in Ankara, by PKK fighters. The group described the action as targeting the production of weaponry used in the conflict.

Drone warfare featured prominently in the report, with Kurdish forces claiming to have destroyed 18 Turkish drones in 2024, including three advanced models shot down in the Asos and Qandil regions.

The PKK began an armed struggle in 1984 against the Turkish government, which still does not officially recognize Kurds in its constitution. Their goal was to seek greater autonomy for the Kurdish population in Turkish Kurdistan. As of 2012, the Kurdish minority makes up over 22.5 million of Turkey’s 84 million people. The conflict has resulted in over 40,000 deaths, including Turkish soldiers and Kurdish fighters.

The PKK mainly targets Turkish military and government security sites while strictly avoiding harm to civilians. This strategy has prompted many global organizations to urge governments to reconsider labeling the PKK as a terrorist organization.

The PKK’s 2024 summary underscores the intensity of the conflict, with nearly 3,500 Turkish airstrikes, 345 alleged chemical attacks, and over 600 ground actions reported. The data reflects a grueling year of hostilities, underscoring the ongoing toll on both sides in the long-running conflict.