Air force hits PKK targets in southeast Turkey

By Enes Duran and Ozcan Yildirim

ANKARA (AA) - The Turkish Air Force hit five targets in raids on PKK facilities in the southeastern province of Hakkari, the military said Tuesday.

A statement from the General Staff said Monday’s airstrikes were launched following intelligence that a group of terrorists were planning an attack on a security base in the area.

The destroyed targets were shelters and caves used to store weapons, equipment and other supplies.

A separate statement said PKK shelters and weapons emplacements were destroyed after security forces came under fire in Hakkari’s Semdinli district from mortars and small arms.

In Dargecit, Mardin province, 245 kilograms (540 pounds) of supplies and equipment, including bomb making materials, were found buried by security forces on Monday.

The PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and EU -- resumed its armed campaign against Turkey in July 2015. Since then, it has been responsible for the deaths of more than 1,200 Turkish security personnel and civilians.