Following Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan's "Call for Peace and Democratic Society", PKK declared a ceasefire on 1 March. The HPG stated in a statement that Turkey continued its attacks despite the ceasefire decision. According to the news in Fırat News Agency (ANF), Turkey has carried out 8 attacks with banned weapons, 93 air attacks and 5052 attacks with heavy weapons, artillery and howitzers since the ceasefire was declared.

 

HPG stated that it used its right of self-defence against the attacks. The statement confirmed: "In response, the Martyr Delal air defense unit of our forces shot down the Akinci drone, which was flying at a high altitude over Qandil, at 19:20 on March 16, 2025. The Turkish state had believed this drone could not be downed. If these attacks continue, it is our right to down such reconnaissance drones for defensive purposes, and this mission will be carried out."