Security forces ‘neutralize’ 99 PKK militants in one week

ANKARA

Security forces arrive in the southeastern province of Hakkari in order to carry out security operations against the PKK.

Turkey’s security forces “neutralized” 99 militants of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) during security operations carried out last week, according to a statement released by the Turkish General Staff on April 1. 

The authorities use the word “neutralized” to refer to militants who are killed, incapacitated or captured.

The statement said one soldier was killed and nine others were injured in the operations carried out in the southeastern provinces of Şırnak, Hakkari, Diyarbakır and Mardin and the eastern provinces of Bitlis and Ağrı between March 24 and 30. 

According to the General Staff, 52 infantry rifles, 109 hand grenades, one mortar, one anti-aircraft machine rifle, five rocket launchers, nearly 4,300 kilograms of ammonium nitrate, 13,5 kilograms of A4 explosives and cables, detonators and explosives used in making hand-made explosives were seized in the operations. In addition, security forces destroyed 24 home-made explosives. 

Some 56 shelters and depots belonging to the PKK were destroyed and 839 kilograms of marijuana, 4,550 liters of fuel oil and 50,560 smuggled cigarettes were confiscated in the operations. 

In addition, the General Staff said a total of 4,201 people attempting to cross the border illegally were apprehended.