UPDATE - 18 PKK terrorists killed in N. Iraq, southeast Turkey

UPDATES NUMBER OF PKK TERRORISTS KILLED, ADDS DETAILS OF ANOTHER OPERATION

By Yilmaz Kazandioglu, Ekrem Payan and Mehmet Tosun

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish Air Force killed 18 PKK terrorists in separate operations in northern Iraq and southeastern Turkey on Wednesday, according to Turkish military sources.

In a statement, Turkish General Staff said eight terrorists were killed in Iraq’s Zap region during an air operation on Wednesday.

Eight more PKK terrorists were killed in a separate air operation in southeastern Hakkari province’s Cukurca district, an official, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on talking to the media, said.

The latest death toll brings the number of PKK terrorists killed in Hakkari since Tuesday to 19.

Two more terrorists were killed in another air operation in southeastern Sirnak province, the source added.

Also, five other PKK terrorists surrendered to Turkish officials in Sirnak province’s Silopi district on Tuesday, according to the regional governor’s office.

The PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and EU -- resumed its armed campaign against Turkey in July 2015 and since then has been responsible for the deaths of approximately 1,200 security personnel and civilians, including women and children.