Turkey anti-terror operations leave 4 terrorists dead

ANKARA

Four terrorists were killed and a police officer martyred during separate operations in four Turkish provinces, said provincial officials and Turkish military sources on Thursday.

The Tunceli Governor's Office said in a statement Thursday that a terrorist was neutralized, while another was captured during an operation in the Tunceli province’s Hozat district.

Two terrorists were killed and a policeman was slightly injured during a police raid on a PKK terror cell in Turkey's central-western Bolu province Wednesday, security sources said on condition of anonymity.

The Turkish General Staff said in a separate statement Thursday that a village guard who was injured in a PKK terror attack during an operation in a rural area of the Bitlis province, eastern Turkey, Wednesday later succumbed to his wounds at a local hospital.

Also, a terrorist was killed and two others were taken into custody during operations against PKK terrorists in Bitlis, the statement added.

Separately, four police officers and a soldier were martyred in an ongoing anti-terror operation against the PKK in the southeastern Mardin province's Nusaybin district Thursday, police sources said.

The four officers and soldier succumbed to their wounds at Nusaybin State Hospital after getting hit in a PKK terrorist attack.

The operation in the district started on March 14.

The Turkish General Staff said 23 PKK terrorists were killed in anti-terror operations in eastern and southeastern Turkey Wednesday.

More than 350 security personnel have been martyred since the PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU, resumed its 30-year armed campaign last July.

Thousands of PKK terrorists have also been killed in operations across Turkey and northern Iraq.