In a series of offensives against the separatist terrorist organization, the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK), eight terrorists were neutralized, said a statement released by the Turkish General Staff.
The operations aim to clear parts of southeastern Turkey, where PKK terrorists take shelter and organize transit routes. The provinces where the operations are being carried out are Hakkari, Şırnak, Diyarbakır, Mardin and Bitlis. Permanent shelters and key PKK routes became inoperable as part of the operations.
As a result of the operations, one mortar bomb, 31 handmade bombs, 42 infantry rifles, seven guns, 500 kilograms of ammonium nitrate, various forms of ammunition and explosives were seized.
Two Turkish soldiers were martyred and four were wounded during the operations.
Turkish forces raided mountains throughout the southeastern cities. In Şırnak, a total of 27 caves and six shelters were raided. In Siirt, one cave and in Diyarbakır one cave, three shelters and one depot was raided. In Bingöl, five caves and one depot and in Batman, 53 caves, eight caves and one depot were raided.
The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization in Turkey, the European Union and the United States, has been conducting armed violence in the southeastern part of Turkey since 1984.
More than 40,000 people, mostly civilians, were killed in the three-decade conflict.
Turkey launched the Euphrates Shield Operation with the Free Syrian Army (FSA) in late August to improve security, support coalition forces, and eliminate the terror threat along Turkey's border.
Saturday marks the 144th day since the launch of the offensive. Under the operation, the Free Syrian Army is backed by Turkish artillery and jets.
The Turkish army is supporting FSA fighters in liberating Al-Bab, a strategic city for Daesh, from the terrorist group.
The operation also aims to clear out PKK and the PKK-affiliated Democratic Union Party (PYD) terrorists.
A total of 1,775 Daesh terrorists have been neutralized since Turkey launched its military campaign in northern Syria. Of these, 518 were killed, 250 wounded and 7 surrendered.
PKK/PYD terrorists have also been neutralized during the operations. A total of 310 PKK/PYD terrorists were neutralized, 295 of whom were killed, four were wounded and eleven surrendered.
Since the beginning of the operation 2,845 handmade explosives and 43 mines have been neutralized under controlled conditions. The Turkish Air Force has dropped 1,233 bombs on 1,141 targets.
