General staff announces PKK operation details

ANKARA - Hürriyet Daily News

DHA Photo

Turkish General Staff announced yesterday the details of a recent operation launched in the southeastern provinces of Hakkari and Şırnak against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

The announcement stated that a series of coordinated operations were conducted between Oct. 30 and Nov. 7 in the region, which is comprised of steep cliffs and deep valleys with a 50 km width and 20 km depth.

Along with seven commando battalions from three different commando brigades, two Special Forces battalions, one Gendarmerie Special Operation battalion, two Police Special Operation teams and village guards participated in the operations.

The announcement also noted that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) recently began to use manned reconnaissance planes in order to detect the condition of critical points in the country. These planes detected a group of PKK members after a reconnaissance flight on Nov. 4 in the southern province of Şırnak, after which two Gendarmerie Special Operation teams were sent to the area.

As a result of these successive operations, a total of eight PKK members were killed, the announcement said.