22 June 2017•Update: 22 June 2017
ANKARA
Two soldiers were martyred Thursday in an anti-terror operation targeting the PKK in Turkey’s eastern province of Bitlis, the General Staff said.
The soldiers were initially hospitalized after the attack in Tatvan on the western shore of Lake Van but later succumbed to their injuries, according to a statement. A third soldier is still being treated at Tatvan State Hospital.
Meanwhile, the Diyarbakir governor’s office said an operation targeting PKK financing in 104 villages of the southeastern province ended on Wednesday.
The operation, supported by around 8,000 members of the security forces, led to the deaths of three PKK terrorists and the capture of five others, the governor’s office said in a statement.
Nineteen “long-barrelled weapons”, 13 other firearms, 22 hand grenades and ammunition were seized during the operation and 83 shelters and 19 improvised explosive devices were destroyed.
The statement added that more than 17 tons of cannabis and up to 4 million cannabis plants were also confiscated during the 25-day operation.
Since the PKK launched its terror campaign in 1984, an estimated 40,000 people in Turkey have died in related violence.
Following a fragile cease-fire, the group resumed fighting in July 2015, since when it has been responsible for the deaths of around 1,200 security personnel and civilians.
*Reporting by Sinan Uslu and Hasan Namli; Writing by Nilay Kar
