At least 22 PKK terrorists have been killed, 12 other terrorists have been captured in nationwide anti-terror operations in the past week in Turkey, the interior ministry said Monday.
According to a statement by the ministry, Turkish security forces, including the gendarmerie, police and commando units carried out a total of 94 anti-terror operations between Aug. 21 and 28.
A total of 127 people have been detained for providing assistance to the terrorist organization.
Meanwhile, 44 Daesh-linked terrorist suspects have also been detained, the ministry added.
Speaking at an opening ceremony for a school in the eastern province of Siirt, Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu said on Sunday that the fight against terrorism is continuing unabatedly."Although our nation is enjoying its eid holiday now, our soldiers do not take a break for a second. Last night, they killed seven terrorists and they killed two more today as I've informed just now," Soylu said.He also touched on the income sources of the PKK, emphasizing drug trafficking activities."The PKK terrorist organization gains $1.5 billion a year from drug trafficking. This is not a small number," Soylu said, adding that security forces have blocked off many of the PKK's operational areas and they have almost ended the terrorist group's recruitment."This is a collective struggle, and both education and employment are part of it," he said, indicating that it is nearing its end.
Security forces also carried out narcotics operations throughout the country, confiscating 2,077 kilograms of cannabis worth 35,344,460 Turkish liras ($10,252,238 US), 70 kilograms of heroin, tens of thousands of drugs, as well as 768,792 packages of smuggled cigarettes.
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.