Turkish security forces killed at least 62 members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terrorist group within the last 72 hours after launching a fresh “sweeping operation" in the southeastern region, security sources said Friday.
Terrorist activities have escalated in some southeastern provinces including Diyarbakır, Şırnak and Hakkari, where PKK militants have been digging ditches, planting road side mines, attacking security officials as well as civilians, destroying historical and public buildings, and kidnapping students. Turkish security forces launched a wide-ranging sweep on Wednesday.
The operations, conducted jointly by 10,000 military and police officers and backed by tanks and armored vehicles, started after a curfew declaration in the area.
Security sources said that the joint anti-terror units killed at least 60 terrorists in Cizre and Silopi districts of the southeastern province of Şırnak.
About 30 terrorists were killed during a raid on the 23 Nisan Medium School in the Başak neighborhood of Silopi district, which terrorists had been using as a base of operation.
Turkish President vowed to continue the operations until the area will be free of terrorists.
“The current operations will continue until all restive urban areas are cleared of terrorists. There is no stopping. The struggle will carry on with the same determination," Erdoğan said on Thursday in a mass rally in Konya.
According to media reports, security forces trapped about 400 terrorists in Başak, Barbaros, Nuh and Cudi neighborhoods in Silopi district.
Hundreds of local citizens have been displaced from their homes, others took temporary shelter with their relatives in nearby areas.
People in the area have been suffering under repeated curfews and clashes between terrorists and security units since October this year.
Though hospitals continue operating, schools remain closed in the area.
The sweeping operations are also underway in Nusaybin and Dargeçit districts of Mardin province and Sur district of Diyarbakır.
