Turkish military say operations left 305 PKK dead

ANKARA

The Turkish military has said a total of 305 PKK terrorists have been killed in counter-terrorism operations in southeastern Turkey since Dec. 15.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Turkish General Staff said nine more PKK terrorists were killed on Tuesday in southeastern Diyarbakir and Sirnak provinces where operations continue amid curfews.

The army said that two PKK terrorists were killed on Tuesday in Diyarbakir’s Sur district, under curfew since Dec. 2. Ongoing operations have killed 62 terrorists in Sur so far.

In Cizre, a town close to the Syrian border in Sirnak province, four terrorists were killed. The total number of the terrorists killed in the ongoing operations has reached 207 in the town, which is also under a security curfew.

Twenty-one handmade explosives were disposed of. A number of shotguns, ammunition, a drone and some medical equipment were also recovered.

According to the General Staff, three other terrorists were killed on Tuesday in Silopi district of Sirnak province, which brought the total number of PKK deaths to 36 in the area.

Three barricades were removed and 46 handmade explosives were disposed of during the operations.

In the Patnos district of eastern Agri province, six people were detained on Tuesday on charges of aiding and abetting PKK terrorist organization.

The military added that Turkish security forces also detained four suspected Daesh members on Tuesday in southeastern Kilis province.

The suspects were alleged to have illegally crossed into Turkey from Syria.

The PKK – considered a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and EU – resumed its three-decade armed campaign against the Turkish state in late July.

Since Dec. 15, when security forces stepped up operations against the PKK in southeastern towns and cities, 305 terrorists have been killed, the military said.

Most of the casualties were recorded in Cizre and Sur as well as Silopi and in Sirnak province.