PKK detonates explosive, kills Turkish soldier

ŞIRNAK

One soldier was killed during a counterterrorism operation against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in the southeastern Turkish province of Şırnak, a military official stated on Dec. 11.

The soldier was injured by an explosive detonated by PKK militants and later succumbed to his wounds after being rushed to Şırnak State Hospital, state-run Anadolu Agency quoted the source as saying.

Separately, at least seven PKK terrorists were “neutralized” in nationwide counter-terror operations over the past week, the Interior Ministry said on Dec. 11.

According to the ministry, 1,323 operations were held in the southern province of Hatay, the eastern provinces of Batman, Bingol, Bitlis, Tunceli, and the southeastern provinces of Diyarbakır, Hakkari, Mardin and Siirt over the course of the week.

Two militants were killed, two were captured and three surrendered during the operations, the statement noted.

Some 153 suspects were arrested for aiding and abetting the PKK, 67 over links to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), 699 over links to the Fetullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), and four over links to outlawed far-leftist groups, according to the Interior Ministry.

The U.S.-based Fethullah Gülen is the top suspect in cases into Turkey’s July 2016 coup attempt.

During the operations, 22 PKK shelters and 34 handmade explosives were reportedly destroyed, while heavy ammunition including hand grenades and rifles were seized.

The Interior Ministry also stated that anti-narcotics teams seized drugs including 2.2 tons of hashish and 78 kilograms of heroin in 2,000 raids in 77 provinces across the country.

Meanwhile, the Turkish Air Forces have “neutralized” 17 PKK militants in raids in northern Iraq, the military said Dec. 11.

Strikes on PKK targets were carried out in Iraq’s Hakurk region, resulting in 17 militants being “neutralized,” a term used by the authorities usually to suggest that the targets have been killed.

Security sources from the Armed Forces told reporters that at least three shelters were destroyed in the raids.