Turkey’s top generals inspect anti-PKK operations regions
ŞIRNAK
AA photo
Turkish Chief of General Staff Hulusi Akar, accompanied by commanders-in-chief and the commander of the gendarmerie forces, have visited the southeastern provinces of Şırnak and Mardin in order to inspect ongoing security operations against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
The commanders went to the region early on June 1 to be briefed on the security situation in the area, inspect the troops in the region and provide moral support to security officials.
Akar later visited the outgoing Mardin Governor Ömer Faruk Koçak, who has been appointed as the new governor of Aydın, holding a closed door meeting with him.
According to information released on the website of the Turkish General Staff, a total of 76 PKK militants have surrendered to security forces in the Nusaybin district of Mardin since May 24, while a total of 496 PKK militants have been killed in operations in the district since March 14.
In addition, a further 479 PKK militants have been killed in operations in the southeastern province of Şırnak, the General Staff said.
Meanwhile, armed clashes erupted between security forces and PKK militants early on June 1 in Şırnak’s İdil district.
Clashes erupted in the morning hours when a group of PKK militants tried to infiltrate into the district and security officials intervened.
According to initial reports, two security personnel were wounded while a number of PKK militants were killed.
The district had previously been the site of a curfew.
Blast wounds 12 security officials
In a separate incident, PKK militants detonated an improvised explosive device on the afternoon of June 1 in Nusaybin, wounding two police officers and 10 soldiers.
Reports indicate the blast took place in the district’s Fırat neighborhood as a house was being searched by security officials.
The wounded personnel were taken to the Nusaybin State Hospital for treatment, with reports suggesting that one of the soldiers sustained serious injuries and is in a critical condition.
A third attack was reported in the Pülümür district of the eastern province of Tunceli, where a specialized sergeant was wounded as PKK militants opened fire at the district gendarmerie command with long-barreled weapons.
The wounded soldier was taken to the Erzincan Military Hospital in a helicopter for treatment.
Turkish jets hit Metine
Meanwhile, air-borne operations against the PKK continued on May 31 as Turkish warplanes hit PKK positions in the Metina region of northern Iraq. Six targets belonging to the group were destroyed, according to a Turkish Armed Forces statement released on June 1.
Turkish warplanes launched an air operation between 6:23 p.m. and 6:56 p.m. on May 31 after evaluating received intelligence, the statement said.
Six targets, including weapon launching positions and shelters belonging to the outlawed group, were destroyed.
The warplanes returned to their bases in Turkey after the operation.
The commanders went to the region early on June 1 to be briefed on the security situation in the area, inspect the troops in the region and provide moral support to security officials.
Akar later visited the outgoing Mardin Governor Ömer Faruk Koçak, who has been appointed as the new governor of Aydın, holding a closed door meeting with him.
According to information released on the website of the Turkish General Staff, a total of 76 PKK militants have surrendered to security forces in the Nusaybin district of Mardin since May 24, while a total of 496 PKK militants have been killed in operations in the district since March 14.
In addition, a further 479 PKK militants have been killed in operations in the southeastern province of Şırnak, the General Staff said.
Meanwhile, armed clashes erupted between security forces and PKK militants early on June 1 in Şırnak’s İdil district.
Clashes erupted in the morning hours when a group of PKK militants tried to infiltrate into the district and security officials intervened.
According to initial reports, two security personnel were wounded while a number of PKK militants were killed.
The district had previously been the site of a curfew.
Blast wounds 12 security officials
In a separate incident, PKK militants detonated an improvised explosive device on the afternoon of June 1 in Nusaybin, wounding two police officers and 10 soldiers.
Reports indicate the blast took place in the district’s Fırat neighborhood as a house was being searched by security officials.
The wounded personnel were taken to the Nusaybin State Hospital for treatment, with reports suggesting that one of the soldiers sustained serious injuries and is in a critical condition.
A third attack was reported in the Pülümür district of the eastern province of Tunceli, where a specialized sergeant was wounded as PKK militants opened fire at the district gendarmerie command with long-barreled weapons.
The wounded soldier was taken to the Erzincan Military Hospital in a helicopter for treatment.
Turkish jets hit Metine
Meanwhile, air-borne operations against the PKK continued on May 31 as Turkish warplanes hit PKK positions in the Metina region of northern Iraq. Six targets belonging to the group were destroyed, according to a Turkish Armed Forces statement released on June 1.
Turkish warplanes launched an air operation between 6:23 p.m. and 6:56 p.m. on May 31 after evaluating received intelligence, the statement said.
Six targets, including weapon launching positions and shelters belonging to the outlawed group, were destroyed.
The warplanes returned to their bases in Turkey after the operation.