The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), founded in the late 1970s, aimed to establish an independent Kurdish state in Turkey. On August 15, 1984, the PKK escalated its campaign against the Turkish state by launching attacks on police and gendarmerie stations in Şemdinli and Eruh, two critical towns located in the predominantly Kurdish southeastern region of Turkey. This marked a significant turning point as PKK's armed struggle transitioned from a political movement to active warfare, symbolizing the beginning of a protracted armed conflict that would last for decades. The attacks included the use of weapons and tactics that would define the PKK's later operations throughout the conflict.The repercussions of these initial attacks were profound, evoking a swift and aggressive response from the Turkish government. The military was mobilized to counter the insurgency, leading to an intensification of violence. The societal implications were equally alarming, as the attacks fueled ethnic tensions and distrust between Kurdish and Turkish populations. Within this context, the PKK claimed to fight for the rights of Kurds in Turkey, advocating for autonomy and recognition of their identity, while the Turkish state viewed the organization as a significant threat to national integrity. This conflict would see numerous casualties on both sides and would reshape the geopolitical landscape of Turkey and its relations with neighboring countries.The PKK's actions were not just a reflection of regional discontent but also aligned with a broader wave of ethnic nationalism emerging across various countries, adding layers to the complexities of identity politics in the Middle East. Over the ensuing years, the conflict would lead to extensive military operations, the establishment of security measures, and ongoing debates about human rights and the Kurdish question in Turkey. The engagements in Şemdinli and Eruh set into motion a chain of events that would define Turkish-Kurdish relations for generations.