5 PKK terrorists killed in eastern Turkey

Turkish forces kill 5 PKK terrorists in the eastern Van and Bitlis provinces, officials say.
5 PKK terrorists killed in eastern Turkey

Five members of the PKK terrorist organization have been killed in security operations in the eastern provinces of Turkey, officials said on Wednesday.

Turkish security forces killed two PKK terrorists on Tuesday night in an ongoing security operation in Turkey's eastern Van province, while three other terrorists were killed in the neighboring province of Bitlis on Wednesday.

According to a statement issued by the Van Governorate, a gunfight broke out on Mount Tendurek on Tuesday night when PKK terrorists assaulted Turkish security forces.

A separate gunfight broke out on Wednesday at a checkpoint on a highway between Van and Bitlis province when PKK terrorists assaulted police with long-barreled guns and grenades, according to Bitlis Governor Ahmet Cinar.

Cinar said four or five terrorists attacked the checkpoint, adding that three of them were killed while the remaining fled.

One person was killed on the spot while three civilians were seriously injured and taken to a nearby hospital.

Cinar said PKK member particularly targeted civilians, saying that, “That’s why we are so sorry.”

Turkish forces also seized military equipment, which is believed to belong to the PKK.

The PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and EU – resumed its armed campaign against the Turkish state in July 2015.

Since then, nearly 600 security personnel, including troops, police officers, and village guards, have been martyred, and more than 7,700 PKK terrorists killed in operations across Turkey and northern Iraq.

*Anadolu Agency correspondents Tuncay Kayaoglu in Istanbul and Hatice Kesgin in Ankara contributed to this report.