Turkish military kills 43 PKK terrorists in past week

Ankara

Forty-three PKK terrorists were killed in a military offensive in southeastern Turkey during the past week, the military said Saturday.

Operations were conducted in the southeastern provinces of Hakkari, Sirnak and Diyarbakir between Aug. 17-24, according to a statement from the Turkish General Staff.

The military also destroyed firearms, bomb-making material, small-arms ammunition, hand-made explosive devices and shelters used by the terrorists.

The offensive also targeted financial sources of the terrorist organization; more than 100,960 packets of contraband cigarettes were seized.

The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU, resumed its armed campaign against Turkey in July 2015.

Since then, it has been responsible for the deaths of more than 1,200 Turkish security personnel and civilians, including women and children.

Reporting by Sinan Uslu; Writing by Kubra Chohan