The Turkish armed Forces (TAF) conducted 183 land operations since October 2016. In 11 of these operations, six battalions or more participated. Taking into consideration the fact that a single battalion consists of 300 to 1,300 soldiers, more than 5,000 soldiers participated in these operations.
Land operations were supported by air operations. A total of 413 domestic and foreign operations were conducted; 199 cross-border operations were carried out in the terrorist caves of northern Iraq.
As a result of air operations 745 Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorists were killed, 92 were injured and 837 were neutralized. In operations conducted since October 2016, 2,759 terrorists were neutralized in air and land operations. As a result of these operations 2,008 terrorists were killed and 145 wounded terrorists were captured. While 201 terrorists were captured alive, 405 surrendered.
Turkey’s Minister of Defense Nurettin Canikli underlined that the fight against terrorism will continue with determination.
“In the world’s most precious geography we are ready to pay any price it takes to protect this country. For our country’s peace and security our fight against terrorism will continue with determination until we neutralize the very last terrorist” Canikli said.
The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union and the United States. The PKK has been conducting armed violence in the southeastern part of Turkey since 1984. More than 40,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in the three-decade long conflict.
