Over 40 PKK terrorists 'neutralized' in eastern Turkey

ANKARA

Forty-six PKK terrorists, including two senior members, were neutralized in counterterror operations in eastern Turkey in the past week, the military said on Friday.

The 46 terrorists included Behtin Bilen, codenamed Dijyar, who surrendered to the security forces, and Yilmaz Kes, codenamed Sahin, who was killed, a statement from the Turkish General Staff read.

Operations were conducted in the eastern cities of Hakkari, Sirnak, Van, Bingol and Mus between July 27 and Aug. 3.

Twenty-seven firearms, 286 kilograms of ammonium nitrate (used for bomb making), over 13,000 rounds of small-arms ammunition, around 300 rounds of anti-aircraft ammunition and over 38 hand-made explosive devices were also destroyed.

Forty-one shelters used by terrorists, including depots and caves, and a minibus thought to be linked to a planned bomb attack in the Beytussebap district of southeastern Sirnak province were also destroyed, the statement added.

Operations also hit financial sources of the terrorist organization. Narcotics teams in the past week seized 13 kilograms of illegal drugs and over 70,000 packets of contraband cigarettes.

The PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- resumed its armed campaign against Turkey in July 2015.

Since then, it has been responsible for the deaths of some 1,200 Turkish security personnel and civilians, including a number of women and children.

Reporting by Burcu Calik; Writing by Nilay Kar