ANKARA

Turkish security forces discovered a makeshift cable car established and used by PKK terrorists in northern Iraq as the country’s cross-border anti-terror operations are underway in the region, an official statement said on Wednesday.

The National Defense Ministry said Turkish forces found the cable car system above a stream Hakurk region during the search efforts.

They also revealed a water pipeline built by the terrorists to provide drinking water from the stream in the region and destroyed scores of weapons and ammunitions stashed in shelters and caves by the terrorists, the statement added.

On May 27, Turkey launched Operation Claw against the PKK in the Hakurk region of northern Iraq, followed by its second and third phases in July and late August.

According to the latest data by the ministry, no less than 170 YPG/PKK terrorists have been neutralized since the May operation in the region.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.

*Writing by Nilay Kar