Turkish forces kill 58 PKK terrorists

By Baris Gundogan

ANKARA

Turkish security forces killed 58 PKK terrorists during last week’s operations, a military statement said on Friday.

The Turkish General Staff said the terrorists were killed in Turkey’s southeastern Sirnak and Hakkari provinces.

Seven Turkish soldiers were martyred and 12 injured in the course of the counterterrorism operations.

A large amount of illegal firearms and ammunition was recovered, including anti-aircraft rounds, rocket-propelled grenades and a sniper rifle.

Also, 2,500 kilograms of ammonium nitrate (used for making explosives), 38 hand grenades, two anti-tank rounds and over 118,000 packets of contraband cigarettes were also found.

Eight PKK shelters and depots were destroyed.

More than 1,200 people, including security force personnel and civilians, have lost their lives since the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- resumed its decades-old armed campaign in July 2015.

Reporting by Baris Gundogan; Writing by Ahmet Furkan Mercan