PKK suffered heavy losses: Turkish army chief

By Cankut Tasdan

ANKARA (AA) - Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar said the terrorist organization PKK has lately suffered heavy casualties in counter-terror operations carried out across the country.

According to a statement by the Turkish General Staff on Sunday, Akar on Saturday paid a visit to eastern Elazig, Tunceli, and Malatya provinces to inspect troops taking part in anti-terror operations.

Akar was accompanied by Commander of the Turkish Land Forces Gen. Yasar Guler and Turkish Air Forces Commander Gen. Hasan Kucukakyuz.

Speaking during the visit, Akar said the Turkish army had recently dealt a heavy blow to the PKK. "The terror operations will continue nonstop, day and night, in summer and winter," the army chief said.

The PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- waged a terror campaign against Turkey for more than 30 years and has been responsible for the death of nearly 40,000 people.

More than 1,200 Turkish security personnel and civilians, including a number of women and children, have been killed since July 2015 alone when the group resumed its armed campaign against the country.