Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Iraq, citing a security source, reported that Turkish drones have been conducting intensive flights over the skies of the Qandil Mountains in northern Iraq since early this morning.

Our correspondent also reported that a significant movement of Turkish forces was observed Tuesday heading towards the southern perimeter of the Qandil Mountains.

This follows Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's threat on February 6 to initiate a military operation in the Qandil region, akin to the operations in Afrin, Syria, and other areas with Kurdish fighter presence.

Erdogan also stated in a public speech that Turkiye will persist in conducting operations targeting Kurdish militant camps in the Qandil Mountains.

Turkiye's ruling Justice and Development Party spokesperson, Omer Celik, stated last Friday that "all Kurdish militants in Turkiye, Iraq, and Syria, including the SDF, must lay down their weapons following Ocalan's call to do so."

Late last month, Abdullah Ocalan called on the group to lay down its arms and disband. In a letter read by Turkiye's pro-Kurdish DEM Party on February 27, Öcalan urged the PKK to convene a congress to formalize this decision.

"As in the case with any modern community and party whose existence has not been abolished by force would voluntarily do, convene your congress and make a decision; all groups must lay their arms and the PKK must dissolve itself," he stated.