Turkish jets, drones breathe fire on PKK terrorists

By Hakan Mehmet Sahin

EDIRNE, Turkey (AA) - Turkish airstrikes have dealt a major blow to terrorist organization PKK, according to a captured terrorist.

The terrorist, identified by the initials O.Z., said in an interrogation that was filed in the prosecutor's indictment that the Turkish Armed Forces had restricted their movement through the use of drones and fighter jets.

The terrorists lie low when drones hover in the sky as they strike if a movement is detected, said O.Z., who was captured while escaping illegally to Greece.

To camouflage in their surroundings when they see Turkish drones approaching, the terrorists use umbrellas.

"We opened umbrellas to camouflage and did not move until danger was over, but these measures became ineffective with the use of jets.”

O.Z. joined PKK 20 years ago and received combat and ideological training. He was active in northern Iraq’s Qandil, Zap and Haftanin regions.

On May 27, Turkey launched Operation Claw against the PKK in the Hakurk region of northern Iraq. The ongoing offensive has neutralized 58 so far.

O.Z. said that operations against the terrorists who had dug trenches in the cities became "a breaking point" for them as they know their days are numbered.

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 nearly 40,000 people, including women and children.

*Writing by Erdogan Cagatay Zontur