A group of 30 Kurdish fighters have ceremonially burned their weapons in northern Iraq, marking a major step toward ending a decades-long insurgency.

In a historic move, the Kurdish separatist group PKK has initiated disarmament, marking a vital phase in the peace process with Turkey. PKK forces, following leader Abdullah Öcalan's urging, began laying down arms in northern Iraq.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hailed a move by Kurdish PKK militants to begin destroying their weapons Friday as a key step on the path to a 'terror-free Turkey'.

Abdullah Ocalan, jailed leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group, appeared in a rare online video on Wednesday to declare the group's armed struggle against Turkey over and call for a full transition to democratic politics.

Bahçeli also commended the DEM Party for maintaining what he described as a responsible political stance. Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli, who initiated the current peace process in October, has issued a written statement welcoming the PKK’s disarmament move earlier today.

The imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party has renewed his call for fighters to disarm. Abdullah Ocalan emphasized in a video message on Wednesday the importance of abandoning armed conflict and embracing peace through politics.

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region Presidency's spokesperson on Thursday thanked Ankara and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) for their 'confidence' in the Region to host the historic ceremony where tens of PKK fighters will lay down arms.