48 PKK militants ‘neutralized’ last week as Turkish military continues airstrikes

ANKARA

Some 48 militants of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) were “neutralized” in a series of operations last week, according to a statement released by Turkey’s Interior Ministry on June 5, while military airstrikes destroyed two PKK shelters and one ammunition depot in northern Iraq late on June 4. 

Authorities use the word “neutralized” to refer to militants who are killed, wounded or captured.  

The Interior Ministry said 30 PKK militants had been killed, 15 surrendered to security forces and three more were taken prisoners in operations last week, state-run Anadolu Agency reported.        

Fifty PKK bunkers were also destroyed in the eastern provinces of Batman, Diyarbakır, Hakkari, Muş, Şırnak and Tunceli.

During the operations the security forces seized over 1,300 kilograms of material used to make explosives, plus 209 hand grenades and 137 firearms. 

Almost 280 people were detained in connection with the PKK over the last week, the ministry also stated.         

Airstrikes hit PKK targets in northern Iraq  

Meanwhile, Turkish Air Forces airstrikes destroyed two PKK shelters and one ammunition depot in northern Iraq late on June 4, the military also said.        

A General Staff statement said forces launched an airstrike in the Hakurk area of northern Iraq on June 4, destroying the PKK-held property.        

Separately, security forces seized one machine gun, one infantry rifle, one RPG-7 rocket launcher, and 50 kilograms of ammonium nitrate in the Kağızman district of the northeastern Turkish province of Kars, the statement added.