A total of 53 PKK terrorists, including three high-ranking PKK leaders, were killed in anti-terror operations carried out between June 15 and 22 in the rural areas of Turkey's southeastern Hakkari, Şırnak, Diyarbakır and Siirt provinces, the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) said Friday in a written statement.

Dozens of weapons and grenades and thousands of pieces of ammunition were seized, while 17 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were identified and destroyed by explosive ordnance teams, the statement added.

Some 58 shelters, caves and depots used by the terrorist organization were also destroyed during the operations, the statement said.

A total of 7,851 people, including PKK terrorists and members of its Syrian affiliate Democratic Union Party's (PYD) People's Protection Units (YPG) militia as well as drug smugglers trying to illegally cross the border, were detained.

Ten Turkish soldiers died and 36 others were injured in clashes during the anti-terror operations, the statement elaborated.

The anti-terror operations continue in the region, the TSK said.

Founded in 1978, the PKK has waged a decades-long bloody campaign against Turkey.

The PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and the EU, resumed its armed campaign in July 2015 after a brief reconciliation period.

Since that time, the PKK has been responsible for the deaths of some 1,200 security personnel and civilians, including women and children, while more than 4,000 security personnel and over 2,000 civilians have been injured.