Large-scale anti-terror op launched in eastern Turkey

By Ali Murat Alhas

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey has launched a counter-terrorism operation in the east of the country in a bid to neutralize PKK terrorists and thwart potential attacks in the coming winter, the country’s Interior Ministry said Saturday.

Some 2,250 security personnel comprising of gendarmerie commandos and special police forces are taking part in the "Kiran-7 Operation of Munzur Valley", launched in Tunceli province.

Noting that participation in the terror group had recently plummeted, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said the PKK was so desperate that its terrorists were afraid even to communicate with one another.

He said only the group was only able to recruit 108 new terrorists in 2019, whereas this figure had once been as high as 5,500, adding that 221 terrorists had surrendered to Turkish forces during the year.

Local Tunceli authorities released a statement that the operation, which sought to eradicate the terror group's presence in Turkey, continued "successfully with determination".

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of over 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.