A drone strike in northern Iraq’s Sulaimaniyah province has killed one member of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and injured another, local officials and security sources confirmed on Saturday.
The attack targeted a motorbike in a border village within the Penjwen district, close to the Iranian border.
Local reports, including from The New Region and Kurdistan24, say the strike took place on Saturday morning.
According to Penjwen’s mayor, the two individuals were riding a motorcycle when the drone hit, resulting in one death and one injury.
This is the first such strike in several months.
The incident comes during a delicate period as the PKK begins a gradual disarmament process.
The group recently announced it would end its armed campaign against the Turkish state, which spanned over four decades.
A small ceremony was held last Friday in Sulaimaniyah where a group of 20 to 30 PKK fighters destroyed their weapons.
The disarmament process is expected to continue through the summer, taking place under strict security measures.
The PKK has chosen to destroy their arms rather than hand them over to any government.
Since its formation, the PKK has been involved in a long conflict with the Turkish state, resulting in over 40,000 deaths from 1984 to 2024.
The group is designated as a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the United States, and the European Union.
Turkish leadership has responded positively to the PKK’s decision to disarm. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently called the disarmament ceremony a positive move for national security.
In response, a parliamentary commission in Turkiye is currently working on outlining how former PKK fighters may be reintegrated into civilian and political life.
So far, no country or group has claimed responsibility for Saturday’s drone strike.