PKK’s bomb-laden drone seized in Turkey’s east

AĞRI

Turkish security forces seized a bomb-laden drone reportedly made by outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants in the eastern province of Ağrı on Nov. 11.

The drone was seized in the Mount Tendürek area between Ağrı’s Doğubayazıt district and the eastern province of Van’s Çaldıran district during counter-terrorism operations, according to the Turkish Armed Forces’ (TSK) statement.

The bomb-laden drone, which is used as an air attack method by Islamic State, Iraq and Levant (ISIL) militants in Iraq and Syria, was reportedly seen used in a plot by the PKK for the first time.

The drone, which had the capacity to carry a mortar shell and hand bomb, could be remote controlled from 300 meters away.

Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu said that members of the PKK had substantially decreased in the last few months.

“Only five people joined the terrorist organization in October. Now, the terrorist organization is unable to find members who are willing to join. These figures [participation rate] have been expressed ranging from 500 to 2,000 in some years. But in the first 11 months of this year, 106 people joined the PKK,” Soylu said.

Meanwhile, a total of 115 militants were “neutralized” in counter-terrorism operations in Turkey and northern Iraq from Nov. 3 to Nov. 9, according to the TSK on Nov. 10.

Turkish authorities use the word “neutralized” in their statements to imply the militants in question were either killed, wounded or captured.

In a written statement, the TSK said two soldiers were killed and 15 others were wounded during the operations.