Turkish security forces have killed, captured or forced to surrender at least 23 members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), listed as a terrorist organization by Ankara, across the country over the past week, local media reported on Monday, citing the country's Interior Ministry.
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 08th October, 2018) Turkish security forces have killed, captured or forced to surrender at least 23 members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), listed as a terrorist organization by Ankara, across the country over the past week, local media reported on Monday, citing the country's Interior Ministry.
The ministry said that the security forces had conducted over 2,400 counterterrorism operations across Turkey between October 1-8, the Anadolu News Agency reported.
Over half of the militants surrendered to the authorities, while seven of the PKK members were killed and the rest were captured by the security forces, according to the ministry.
During the raids, security forces also confiscated 45 improvised explosive devices, over 660 Pounds of explosives, more than 20 hand grenades and 25 long-barreled weapons, the news outlet said.
The outlet also reported that more than 4,470 people were arrested on suspicion of drug-related crimes or smuggling during the raids, while 774 people were detained for their alleged assistance to terrorist groups.
Ankara has been fighting the PKK, who demanded to establish a Kurdish autonomy in Turkey, since the early 1980s. The two sides reached a ceasefire in 2013, however, the truce was breached just two years later.
