16 terrorists killed in clashes in eastern Turkey


According to information released by the General Staff on Wednesday afternoon, 15 members of the PKK terrorist organization have been killed during clashes in the Yüksekova district of the southeastern province of Hakkari. Two soldiers were also killed, the army reported.At least one suspect was also killed in clashes and six other suspects were sent to prison in Turkey's eastern Van, Bitlis and Malatya provinces on Wednesday, for alleged links with terrorist organizations, including the PKK and the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C), Turkish security authorities said.According to a statement from the Van Police Department, a suspect was detained for allegedly trying to send a pick-up truck loaded with food and basic essentials to the PKK. Two more suspects were held in the province following a separate raid for alleged links with the PKK's rural branch.The PKK is reportedly digging shelters in the mountains and stocking materials in the countryside of Turkey's east and southeast regions in preparations for the looming winter.Meanwhile, 15 alleged members of the PKK's youth branch, the Patriotic Revolutionist Youth Movement (YDG-H), were detained in anti-terrorist operations in Istanbul early Wednesday. Two rifles and a handgun were seized during the pre-dawn raids, which were backed by police helicopters.