Ocalan announces first phase of PKK dissolution is complete

Imprisoned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan has announced the completion of the first phase of the group's dissolution, which ends its armed struggle. The process will now shift to a second phase focused on democratic integration. This development follows Ocalan's call last year for the PKK and its affiliates in Syria, Iran, and Iraq to disband. The process was recently complicated by clashes in Syria between the PKK-affiliated SDF and Syrian government forces. However, Ocalan and Iraqi Kurdish leaders reportedly helped mediate a ceasefire and bring the Syrian parties back to negotiations.