Turkish Forces Neutralize 54 PKK Militants In Turkey, Iraq Over Past Week - Reports

The Turkish forces have killed, captured or forced to surrender 54 militants linked to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in the course of counterterrorism operations, held across Turkey and in northern Iraq over the past week, local media reported Friday, citing the Turkish Armed Forces.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th September, 2018) The Turkish forces have killed, captured or forced to surrender 54 militants linked to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in the course of counterterrorism operations, held across Turkey and in northern Iraq over the past week, local media reported Friday, citing the Turkish Armed Forces.

A total of 19 militants were neutralized in Turkey's southeastern provinces Sirnak, Siirt, Hakkari, Diyarbakir and Mardin, according to the Anadolu news agency. Thirty-five others were neutralized in northern Iraq.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization in Turkey. Tensions between Ankara and the Kurds escalated in July 2015 when a ceasefire between Turkey and the PKK collapsed over a series of terror attacks allegedly committed by the PKK members. The Turkish forces are involved in anti-PKK raids across the country.