Turkey: 19 PKK terrorists killed in shootouts

ANKARA (AA) – A total of 19 PKK terrorists died in separate clashes in eastern and southeastern Turkey, the country's military said on Saturday.

The Turkish General Staff issued a statement saying 17 "separatist terrorist organization members" were killed in a Friday clash with security forces in the Semdinli district of Hakkari province.

Four Kalashnikov rifles, 13 hand grenades and ammunition were recovered.

In a separate clash, two PKK terrorists were killed in Baskale town of eastern Van; two Kalashnikov rifles were also seized.

The PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU – resumed its 30-year armed campaign against the Turkish state in July 2015.

Since then, nearly 600 security personnel, including troops, police officers, and village guards, have been martyred, and more than 5,000 PKK terrorists killed in operations across Turkey and northern Iraq.