99 PKK militants ‘neutralized’ in two weeks: Turkish military

ANKARA / HAKKARİ

Security forces “neutralized” 99 PKK militants, including a high-ranking one, in operations in the country’s southeast over the last two weeks, the Turkish military said on Sept. 9.

The authorities use the word “neutralized” to refer to militants who have been either killed, wounded or captured.

Security forces targeted outposts and caves used by the militants for shelter and storage in the southeastern provinces of Şırnak and Hakkari, near the Iraqi border, the military said in a statement.

"Ninety-nine terrorists have been neutralized. One is in the so-called leading ranks," it said.

The military stated that six soldiers were killed and 17 others were wounded during the operations.

The operations, which were carried out between Aug. 24 and Sept. 7, led to the seizure of 41 weapons, 420 kilograms of ammonium nitrate, used to make explosives, as well as 37 hand-grenades and 2,664 ammunitions, the military added.

Separately, three people were wounded on Sept. 9 in a PKK attack in the Yüksekova district of Hakkari.

PKK militants detonated an explosive placed on a road during the passage of a tow-truck heading to pull a vehicle which was damaged in another attack on Sept. 6 that claimed the lives of two civilians.

Three people inside the truck identified as Sabri Özatlı, Yaşar Arslan and İsa Alıcı were wounded in the attack.

They were transferred to hospitals as Aslan and Alıcı were later discharged.

An operation to apprehend the militants has been ongoing in the region.