Anti-PKK operation carried out in NE Turkey

By Baris Yalcinkaya

ERZINCAN (AA) - A large-scale operation against the terrorist organization PKK was carried out over the weekend by the Turkish gendarmerie special operations teams in the northeastern province of Erzincan, according to a governorship statement issued Tuesday.

The operation, which began Friday and ended Sunday, took place in the province's Kemah district in temperatures below 15 degrees Celsius, at an altitude of 3,000 meters, the statement said.

"Despite the unfavorable weather conditions, [ which ended on Sunday...], all the shelters and caves that were used by PKK/KCK in past years were destroyed," it said.

"Cobra" helicopters were deployed in support of the Turkish troops due to the difficult conditions in mountainous snow-covered fields around the nearby districts of Munzur and Mercan, it added.