Turkish security forces kill 610 PKK terrorists
New figures from Turkish General Staff point to escalation of operations in southeastern districts
A Turkish special operation police carries out a search at 23 Nisan Middle School, which was used as headquarters by the PKK terrorists, in case there are bomb traps placed by the terrorists in the Silopi District of Sirnak, Turkey on January 20, 2016. (Stringer/AA)
Ankara
ANKARA
A total of 610 PKK terrorists have been killed in southeastern army operations according to new figures released by Turkey's military.
The operations in three districts have been going on since mid-December. PKK members have dug trenches and set up barricades in urban areas of the southeast to keep the security forces out.
According to a statement issued by the General Staff on Tuesday, security forces killed 12 terrorists in the Cizre district of southeastern Sirnak province, where a total of 364 PKK terrorists have been killed.
During Tuesday's operation, nine improvised explosive devices were diffused and five firearms alongside with 153 rounds of ammunition were seized.
In the Silopi district of Sirnak, four terrorists were killed, bringing the army’s total of PKK casualties to 140.
The security forces also killed three PKK terrorists in the Sur district of Diyarbakir province, bringing the losses of the terrorist group to 106.
The PKK – designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU – renewed its armed campaign against the Turkish state in late-July 2015. Since then more than 200 members of the security forces have been martyred.
