Army hits PKK targets in northern Iraq, eastern Turkey

ANKARA

Turkish warplanes hit outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) targets in Turkey’s eastern province of Van and northern Iraq on May 27 and 28. 

Air strikes were carried out in the Avaşin-Basyan region of northern Iraq between 8:45 and 9:05 a.m. on May 28 after the military received intelligence, according to the Turkish General Staff. 

Some 13 militants suspected of preparing armed attacks were “neutralized,” and two shelters, two bunkers, two weapon launching pits and a sheltering area was destroyed in the operation. 

Warplanes returned to their bases safely, the army also said. 

The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) said air strikes were carried out in the Çatak district of Van on May 27. According to the army, 10 PKK militants were killed and weapon launching pits and shelters were destroyed in the operation carried out at around 10:15 p.m. after PKK militants were determined with drones in the district. 

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu held sahur (pre-fast meal during Ramadan) with soldiers and village guards in the Tendürek Mountain in Ağrı’s Doğubayazıt district on May 28. 

Soylu said operations inside and outside the country will continue “until the area is completely cleared from terrorists.”

“After we finish cleaning up inside the country, we will go and clean the areas across the border not only with air strikes, but by going there,” Soylu said, adding that the PKK was hit by a blow in winter with the security operations. 

“The militants thought that they would gain back the places that they lost and establish their dominance again. They are panicking because they saw that it’s not happening. We need to be much more careful after this point. That panic may bring them a new insanity mood,” he also said. 

During the meal, Soylu noted that there has been a boom in the number of tourists in the southeastern region, including the provinces of Diyarbakır, Batman and Mardin. 

“Why is this the case? Because we hit a blow on terrorism. The people were relieved in the cities and they’re launching businesses. The youth is becoming employed,” he added.