December 22, 2015•Update: December 23, 2015
ANKARA
At least 14 PKK terrorists have been killed and a Turkish soldier has been martyred in two separate incidents in Turkey's southeastern provinces, the Turkish military announced Tuesday.
The Turkish General Staff said in a statement that 12 PKK militants were “neutralized” in a security operation in Turkey’s southeastern Sirnak province Monday.
The incident took place in Sirnak’s Cizre district during a counter-terrorism operation. It added that six improvised explosive devices were destroyed, while four hunting rifles and a bayonet were also seized.
The army also said that 103 PKK terrorists had been “neutralized” since Dec. 15 in Cizre operations.
Meanwhile, in another Sirnak district, Silopi, PKK terrorists opened fire at around 250 to 300 civilians who attempted to leave the district. Security forces eventually provided security to the citizens, the statement added.
A curfew was imposed on Cizre and Silopi on Dec. 14. Many citizens reportedly fled the area before the curfew was imposed.
In a separate incident, a Turkish soldier was martyred and two PKK terrorists were killed in an operation in southeastern Bitlis province's Olek village Tuesday, the Turkish military added.
The PKK -- considered a terrorist organization also by the U.S. and the EU -- resumed its armed campaign in late July. Since then, more than 200 members of the security forces have been martyred and over 1,700 PKK terrorists killed.
