Turkey's army says 41 PKK 'neutralized'

By Yildiz Nevin Gundogdu

ANKARA

At least 41 terrorists were 'neutralized' during operations in Turkey's east and southeast between Oct. 27 and Nov. 2, the military said on Friday.

Turkish security forces accounted for 41 PKK terrorists while 11 security personnel were martyred and 15 others were injured, according to a statement from the Turkish General Staff.

Operations took place in five provinces including Hakkari, Sirnak, Diyarbakir, Bingol and Batman.

Security forces seized improvised explosives, weapons, ammunition and narcotics, while at least 22 PKK shelters were destroyed in several rural areas.

The statement added six terrorists -- five Daesh and one PKK -- who were trying to cross the Syrian border illegally were captured in the frontier districts of Elbeyli in Kilis and Mursitpinar in Sanliurfa respectively.

The PKK -- considered a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- resumed its 30-year armed campaign against the Turkish state in late July last year.

Since then, more than 700 members of the security forces have been martyred and around 8,000 PKK terrorists killed or apprehended.