Police officer kidnapped by PKK freed in rescue operation in southeast Turkey

A Turkish police officer kidnapped by the PKK terrorist organization has been freed in a rescue operation on Monday.

The operation was led by Şırnak province's directorate of intelligence.

Officer Ayhan Kaya had been driving to Cizre Public Hospital in Turkey's southeastern province of Şırnak when he was abducted on Dec. 10.

Cizre is among southeastern areas of Turkey which have been the focus of counter-terror operations and military curfews since early Dec. 2015.

Turkish security forces have killed more than 600 PKK terrorists in total in the two districts since counter-terror operations began, according to a Turkish General Staff statement issued on Saturday.

The PKK -- considered a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- resumed its 30-year armed campaign against the Turkish state in late July last year.