PKK caves destroyed in Turkey's Operation Claw

ANKARA- Anadolu Agency

Caves and shelters used by PKK terror organization for producing improvised explosive devices (IED) were destroyed during Turkey's Operation Claw, the National Defense Ministry said on June 9.       

"The caves and shelters which were found to be used by the PKK terrorist organization as an IED production site were destroyed in the successful Operation Claw in Hakurk region of northern Iraq," the ministry said in the statement.     

During the operation, a large amount of ammunition, weapons and explosives were also seized.     

A total of 43 PKK militants have been neutralized since May 27 in Operation Claw which was launched by Turkish Armed Forces against the PKK in northern Iraq.     

In the meantime, awanted PKK militant code-named Zinar Akro was neutralized in southeastern Diyarbakır province, the Interior Ministry said on Ju

In a written statement, the ministry said the militant was identified as Yusuf Kayran and was one of the five neutralized terrorists in the operation on June 3.

The militant was in the gray category of the Interior Ministry's wanted list, the statement said.

Kayran was sought with a 300,000 Turkish lira ($51,000) bounty on his head, the Interior Ministry statement said.

The wanted list is divided into five color-coded categories, with red as the most wanted, followed by blue, green, orange and gray.

Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply that the militants in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.

PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union.