Five soldiers killed, 45 PKK militants ‘neutralized’ in ops in one week: Military

ANKARA

DHA photo

Five soldiers were killed and some 45 outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants were “neutralized” during operations in the country’s southeastern region over the past week, the Turkish military stated on April 21.

The Turkish General Staff said in a statement that security forces conducted broad and middle scale operations targeting PKK militants in the Şırnak-Beytüşşebap, Hakkari-Yüksekova, Diyarbakır-Lice, Batman-Sason, Mardin-Dargeçit and Bitlis-Merkez regions between April 14 and 20 to halt their preparations for the spring-summer season.

It said 45 PKK militants were “neutralized” during the operations in the related regions.

Authorities use the word “neutralized” in their statements to imply the militants in question were either killed, wounded or captured.   
   
The military also stated that five soldiers were killed during the operations while another five were wounded.

It also added that security forces seized 13 infantry riffles, one machine gun, five guns, one grenade thrower and 17 hand grenades.

Another 34 hand-made explosives were destroyed while 1.250 kilograms of ammonium nitrate and explosive materials were seized in the operations, it said.

A total of eight sanctuaries and caves used by the militants as shelters were destroyed, according to the military.

It also stated that four vehicles suspected to have been prepared to be used in potential bomb attacks were also seized.

In addition, security forces seized 9.950 kilograms of cannabis, 650 kilograms of powdered hashish, 12.5 kilograms of drugs and 55.240 packs of smuggled cigarettes, the military stated.

A total of 2,983 people attempting to illegally cross the border were apprehended during security controls, it said.

Separately, two soldiers were killed and another two were wounded on April 21 during clashes with PKK militants in the Andaç region of Şırnak, Doğan News Agency reported.