Turkey: 9 PKK terrorists killed in past week

By Cankut Tasdan

ANKARA (AA) - A total of nine PKK terrorists were killed over the past week as part of ongoing anti-terrorism operations nationwide, according to an official statement issued Monday.

The Interior Ministry’s statement said security forces had conducted 348 operations against the terrorist organization between April 10 and 17.

The statement added that 15 terrorists were neutralized -- nine of them were killed, two were captured and four others surrendered in a week.

In the southeastern and eastern provinces of Batman, Bitlis, Diyarbakir, Mardin, Van and Bingol, 44 shelters and caves used by terrorists were destroyed and 20 hand-made explosives and mines were annihilated.

Security forces also seized 48 weapons, including 21 heavy and long-barrel firearms. In addition, over one ton of explosive material was seized.

Meanwhile, a total of 17 tons of hashish and 170,323 pills were also seized and 863 people were arrested in 590 operations against drug trafficking in 73 provinces.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by 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 lost their lives.

More than 1,200 people, including security force personnel and civilians, have lost their lives since the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and EU -- resumed its decades-old armed campaign in July 2015.