The People's Defence Forces (Kurdish: Hêzên Parastina Gel, HPG) is the military wing of the group Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

The replacement was intended to demonstrate the search for a peaceful solution of the Kurdish-Turkish conflict, after the capture of Abdullah Öcalan in 1999.

[13] As far as can be judged from the publications, one of the basic HPG factions is called "Karela Forces" or "Al-Karila Forces" (Arabic: قوات الكاريلا, romanized: Quwwat al-Karila) meaning "guerrilla" and this name is mainly mentioned in Arabic texts regarding HPG actions.

In Arabic texts, and later among its members and supporters, Karila or Gerîla has become an alternative name for People's Defence Forces in general.

During this period, the organization declared a "long-term people's war" and established an organization called the Kurdistan Liberation Forces (Kurdish: Hêzên Rizgarîya Kurdistanê, HRK), describing as "Armed Propaganda".