At least 98 terrorists killed in week: Turkish military

ANKARA

At least 98 terrorists have been killed in Turkey and northern Syria over a week, according to the Turkish military Friday.

The Turkish General Staff said in a statement that 27 of the terrorists were killed in anti-PKK operations in the Turkish provinces of Diyarbakir, Bingol, Siirt, Mardin, Bitlis, Batman and Kars between March 2 and March 9.

During the operations, 24 shelters used by the PKK were destroyed and five vehicles seized, while 80 improvised explosives and 25 infantry rifles were recovered.

A Turkish soldier was martyred during security efforts at the border, during which 3,547 people were captured while trying to cross illegally.

Security forces also seized 908 kilograms (2,002 pounds) of cannabis and 7,000 packets of smuggled cigarettes.

Meanwhile, 71 PYD/PKK/YPG terrorists were killed in northern Syria as part of the Turkish-led Operation Euphrates Shield, according to the statement, which said efforts to clear mines and explosives are ongoing in the regions of Al-Bab, Qabasin and Bzagah.

Since the Operation began last August, the Turkish military has neutralized 3,060 Daesh terrorists and 462 PKK/PYD/YPG terrorists, killing 2,647 and 425 of them, respectively.

Turkish jets have destroyed 2,325 targets, and the military has taken control of 243 residential areas and 2,015 square kilometers (778 square miles) between the cities of Azaz and Jarabulus.

Operation Euphrates Shield aims to provide security, support U.S.-led coalition forces, and eliminate the terrorist presence along Syria’s northern border with Turkey. The operation relies heavily on Free Syrian Army fighters backed by Turkish artillery and air support.

According to another statement by the military Friday, Turkish jets destroyed three PKK targets in the Avasin-Basyan and Zap regions in northern Iraq late Thursday.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization in Turkey, the U.S., and the EU. It has waged a terror campaign against Turkey for more than 30 years during which more than 40,000 people have been killed.

Since the group resumed armed campaign in July 2015, more than 1,200 people, including security force personnel and civilians, have lost their lives.

Reporting by Yildiz Nevin Gundogmus and Burcu Calik:Writing by Fatih Hafiz Mehmet