Turkish police have detained 16 suspects on Friday, under the scope of an anti-terrorism operation carried out against the PKK in Adıyaman and Iğdır provinces.

In Adıyaman, seven people were arrested in the operation carried out against the PKK's youth branch Patriotic Revolutionist Youth Movement (YDG-H).

Nine others were arrested in Iğdır province, including Iğdır Deputy Mayor Şaziye Önder and Mehmet Gültekin, who is the mayor of Tuzluca district.

Suspects have reportedly set up tents and formed human shields in August to prevent operations against and protect the PKK terrorists in Korhan district.

Turkey has been hit by violence since a suicide bomb attack by a suspected ISIS supporter killed 32 activists in Suruç on July 20.

The Turkish government has intensified its counterterror operations following the recent attacks carried out by the PKK, which is recognized as a terrorist organization by the U.S., the EU and Turkey.

Formed in 1978, the terrorist group has been fighting the Turkish government for an independent state until the early 2000's. The group then shifted its goal to autonomy in predominately Kurdish inhabited regions of Turkey.

The PKK announced on July 11 that the cease-fire which was declared via a message from the PKK's imprisoned leader Abdullah Öcalan in 2013 has ended.

According to military sources, 918 terrorists were killed in Turkey's airstrikes against PKK's hideouts and camps in northern Iraq.

The PKK is also accused of using civilians as human shields in its camps.