Eruh

Eruh is a town and the administrative center of Eruh District in Siirt Province, located in the Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey. The district sits in the eastern part of Siirt, in a mountainous interior near the border with Iraq. The terrain is rugged, with valleys and plateaus typical of the region, and the area experiences a continental climate with hot summers and cold winters.

The area has a long history within various empires and cultures. In the modern era, Eruh is notable for the 1984 Eruh incident, when the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) carried out its first known attacks in Eruh and nearby Şemdinli, an event that marked a turning point in the Kurdish–Turkish conflict.

Demographics in the district are predominantly Kurdish, with Turkish used in official contexts. The population is largely Muslim, and local customs reflect traditional Anatolian Kurdish culture. The district comprises a town center and numerous rural villages, where agriculture and pastoral activities are the main livelihoods.

Economy and administration center on agriculture and animal husbandry, supported by services in the town that cater to the surrounding villages. The administration falls under the provincial system, with district offices providing local governance, education, and basic health services. Transport connections are primarily via regional roads linking Eruh to Siirt and other neighboring districts.