Turkey launches fresh phases of domestic anti-terror op

By Orhan Onur Gemici

ANKARA (AA) - With Turkey ramping up its fight against terrorists, security forces launched the ninth and 10th phases of a domestic anti-terror offensive, the Interior Ministry announced on Friday.

Operation Kiran-9 is underway in the Mt. Cudi area of the eastern Sirnak province, while Kiran-10 has begun in the Kazan Valley of the eastern Hakkari province.

A total of 1,990 security personnel, including gendarmerie and police forces as well as village guards, are taking part in the operation.

On Aug. 17, Turkey launched Operation Kiran in the country's southeast against YPG/PKK terrorists in Van, Hakkari and Sirnak provinces, followed by the launch of Operation Kiran-2 on Aug. 27 in Mardin, Sirnak and Batman provinces. Eight more iterations of the operation followed, including operations Kiran-9 and Kiran-10.

The statement did not specify the terrorists' affiliation, but the terrorist YPG/PKK has traditionally been active in eastern and southeastern Turkey.

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

* Writing by Gozde Bayar