120 PKK militants ‘neutralized’ across Turkey in December 2017

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

At least 120 outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants were “neutralized” in counter-terror operations over the course of December 2017 in Turkey, according to official figures.

The authorities use the term “neutralized” in statements to imply that the militants in question were either killed, wounded or captured.

Despite harsh winter conditions, security forces dealt a heavy blow to PKK with operations in eastern and southeastern provinces, state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

Three soldiers and one civilian were killed as a result of PKK attacks in this period, while seven soldiers and one civilian were also injured.

Some 163 out of 195 suspects arrested over PKK links were remanded in custody following raids conducted in various provinces.

Security forces also destroyed many shelters, caves and depots used by militants in the eastern provinces of Tunceli, Erzincan, Erzurum, Ağrı and Kars during the operations.

Operations last week

Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry stated on Dec. 1 that more than 10 PKK militants were “neutralized” during counter-terrorism operations last week.

The ministry said a total of 1,119 operations were conducted from Dec. 25 and Jan. 1 in Turkey.

Five militants were killed, seven were captured and another surrendered during the operations, according to the statement.

A total of 71 shelters including caves and 23 hand-made explosives were destroyed in the eastern provinces of Van, Tunceli, Erzincan, Iğdır, Bitlis and Şırnak and the Central Anatolian province of Osmaniye.

As part of the operations, 125 suspects were arrested for aiding and abetting the PKK, 325 over alleged links to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), 493 over alleged membership of the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), and five over links to radical leftist organizations.

During the raids, 262 kilos of explosives, 13 hand grenades, 21 guns, including long-barreled weapons, and over 7,000 rounds of various ammunition were seized.

Anti-narcotics operations

Anti-narcotic forces, meanwhile, conducted 2,844 operations in 77 provinces, rounding up 3,764 suspects, according to the Interior Ministry statement.

Various types of drugs including 447 kilos of hashish, 742 kilos of heroin, 2.26 kilos of cocaine and 13.2 kilos of methamphetamine were reportedly seized in the raids.