UPDATE - 18 PKK terrorists killed in northern Iraq, east Turkey

UPDATES NUMBER OF PKK TERRORISTS KILLED, TURKISH SECURITY PERSONNEL MARTYRED, ADDS DETAILS OF TWO OTHER OPERATIONS

By Sinan Uslu and Sarp Ozer

ANKARA (AA) - At least 18 PKK terrorists were killed in several operations in northern Iraq and eastern Turkey on Thursday, according to the Turkish military.

Turkish General Staff said in a statement that three PKK terrorists were killed in an air operation in northern Iraq’s Metina area.

The strike also destroyed the PKK terror group’s ammunition depot.

Another air raid later on Thursday killed three more terrorists in the same area, the military said.

The statement added that a counter-terrorism operation in eastern Van province’s Caldiran district had left nine PKK terrorists dead during a clash with security forces.

Three soldiers and a village guard were also martyred in the clash that left four soldiers injured, the statement read.

Meanwhile, another military operation in Semdinli district of neighboring Hakkari province killed three more terrorists, and left one soldier martyred.

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 around 1,200 people including women and children.