Seven PKK militants killed in Turkey's southeast

Aslı Özkaya, codenamed “Aze Malazgirt,” and Rahmi Ayhan, codenamed “Herekol Heset,” were killed in the Şırnak province’s Bestler-Dereler region, the Turkish General Staff said in a statement on Nov. 17

The Turkish Armed Forces 'killed' the two PKK militants, on Nov. 16, who were on the Interior Ministry’s wanted list, the military announced, referring to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

Five improvised explosives were also destroyed during an ongoing operation in the Avasin-Basyan region of northern Iraq, the statement added. 

In a separate statement, the military said shelters, weapon pits, arms and ammunition depots were destroyed during an air-backed operation in the Hakurk and Avasin-Basyan region of northern Iraq. 

In another counter-terrorism operation in eastern Siirt province, three PKK militants were killed, according to the provincial governor’s office. 

Three PKK militants were also killed in an ongoing operation in the Bestler-Derelerg region of the Şırnak province, a source from Turkish security forces said Later on Nov. 17.

Two of them -- identified as Kader Tatlı, codenamed “Dirok,” and Emine Akyüz, codenamed “Ekin Kerboran” -- are believed to be so-called officials of the militant group, said the source, who asked not be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.