At a Glance:

• Murat Karayilan revealed that nearly 27,000 members have died from 1976 to 2026, with 25,922 recorded by name.
• Data includes 760 YPS members killed in Northern Kurdistan and 3,262 fighters lost against ISIS in Rojava and Sinjar.
• The movement is officially shifting focus from armed conflict to political engagement while warning of sabotage risks against the Peace Process.
• Karayilan rejected reports regarding internal leadership meetings on İmralı as attempts to undermine Abdullah Ocalan.

HPG Commander Murat Karayılan has officially revealed the 50-year casualty toll of the conflict, confirming nearly 27,000 member deaths. Announcing a decisive transition from armed conflict to political struggle, Karayılan warned against ongoing efforts by spoilers to sabotage the Peace Process.

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Key Statements:

"From 1976 to 2026, the names of 25,922 deceased individuals have been recorded. Including those whose names were not documented, the total casualty figure reaches nearly 27,000." — Murat Karayilan, HPG Headquarters Command.

"Transitioning from a military phase to political struggle marks a highly sensitive turning point. Certain factions—particularly former figures operating under separate entities—seek to disrupt this process." — Murat Karayilan, HPG Headquarters Command.

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Comprehensive 50-Year Casualty Data

Karayılan outlined detailed figures spanning half a century, confirming 25,922 named casualties alongside undocumented cases that bring the total close to 27,000. The breakdown includes 760 Civil Protection Units (YPS) members killed in urban operations in Northern Kurdistan between 2015 and 2026, and 3,262 fighters killed in operations against ISIS across Rojava and Sinjar. He noted that most remains are buried in dedicated cemeteries under their control, and attributed past delays in publishing names to intense wartime security conditions.

Strategic Shift and Sabotage Risks

The official announcement of a transition toward political struggle underscores an alignment with broader peace initiatives and committee efforts in Ankara. However, Karayilan cautioned that the transitional phase remains vulnerable to sabotage. He explicitly rejected recent media claims concerning "PKK leadership meetings with Abdullah Ocalan on İmralı," framing such reports as deliberate attempts to compromise Ocalan's standing and disrupt peace negotiations.

FYI

By releasing detailed casualty figures for the first time, the movement's leadership is effectively working to resolve past accounts as part of a formal transition into the political arena. The public commitment to disarmament and political integration reflects a strategic realignment intended to solidify Kurdish civil rights and representation through legal frameworks in both Turkey and Syria.

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