3 PKK terrorists captured in eastern Turkey

By Hasan Namli, Dilara Kucukerdogan and Merve Yildizalp

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey

Three PKK terrorists were captured during ongoing operations in eastern Turkey on Sunday, according to military and regional governor’s office Monday.

One of the terrorists, who managed to escape on Feb. 24 after engaging in a shootout with Turkish soldiers, was captured from southeastern Diyarbakir province’s Lice district along with two of his unarmed collaborators.

During the operations, security forces made 19 terror shelters unusable and captured 300 kilograms (661 pounds) of improvised explosive apparatus and 341 kilograms (752 pounds) of cannabis.

On March 5, Turkish security forces launched a 7,000 troops-strong operation in Diyarbakir's Lice and Bingol's Genc districts.

The operation aims to destroy shelters and gather evidence of links between the PKK terrorist organization and drug trafficking in the region.

Separately, two PKK/PYD terrorists who tried to enter Turkey illegally from Iraq on Sunday were also captured in southeastern Hakkari province, according to another Turkish military statement on Monday.

In addition, Turkish jets carried out an airstrike on PKK terrorists in northern Iraq’s Zap area.

According to the statement, three mortar sites used by the PKK were also destroyed.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and the EU. It has waged a terror campaign against Turkey for more than 30 years during which more than 40,000 people have lost their lives. Since the group resumed its armed campaign in July 2015, more than 1,200 people, including security force personnel and civilians, have lost their lives.