Some 33 terrorists killed over week: Turkish military

ANKARA

At least 33 terrorists were killed in Turkey and northern Syria over the last week, the Turkish military said Saturday.

The Turkish General Staff said in a statement that 28 terrorists were killed in anti-PKK operations in the Turkish provinces of Diyarbakir, Bingol, Siirt, Sirnak, Bitlis, Batman, and Hakkari on March 11-18.

During the operations, 24 shelters used by the PKK were destroyed and a vehicle seized, while 66 improvised explosives, 93 grenades, and eight infantry rifles were recovered.

Five Turkish soldiers were martyred during security efforts at the border, during which 3,873 people were captured trying to cross illegally.

Meanwhile, five PYD/PKK/YPG terrorists were killed in northern Syria as part of the Turkish-led Operation Euphrates Shield, according to the statement, which said efforts to clear mines and explosives are ongoing in the regions of Al-Bab, Qabasin, and Bzagah.

Turkish jets have destroyed 2,325 targets, and the military has taken control of 243 residential areas and 2,015 square kilometers (778 square miles) between the cities of Azaz and Jarabulus.

Operation Euphrates Shield aims to provide security, support U.S.-led coalition forces, and eliminate the terrorist presence along Syria’s northern border with Turkey. The operation relies heavily on Free Syrian Army fighters backed by Turkish artillery and air support.

According to another statement by the military Friday, Turkish jets destroyed three PKK targets in the Avasin-Basyan and Zap regions in northern Iraq late Thursday.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization in Turkey, the U.S., and the EU. It has waged a terror campaign against Turkey for more than 30 years during which more than 40,000 people have been killed.

Since the group resumed armed campaign in July 2015, more than 1,200 people, including security force personnel and civilians, have lost their lives.

Reporting by Ferdi Turkten:Writing by Sibel Ugurlu