39 PKK terrorists killed in anti-terror operations in Turkey in a week

At least 39 PKK terrorists were killed in counter-terror operations throughout Turkey last week, the interior ministry said in a statement Monday.

According to the statement, security forces carried out 1,285 counter-terrorism operations between Sept. 4 and 10.

Beside 39 terrorists, three were captured, and 15 surrendered to security forces, the statement added.

During the operations, there were 601 arrests, including 117 suspects for aiding and abetting the terrorist PKK, 27 linked to Daesh, 451 linked to FETO, and six linked to other terrorist groups.

Eleven shelters and depots used by PKK terrorists and nine improvised explosives were destroyed in controlled detonations in the southeastern Muş, Bingöl, Tunceli, Hakkari and Şırnak provinces.

Security forces seized 12.5 kilograms (27 pounds) of bomb-making materials, 35 hand grenades, 4,527 pieces of various ammunition, and 42 weapons -- including 38 long- and heavy-barreled weapons.

There were a total of 1,374 anti-contraband operations, and 1,883 suspects were captured in 76 provinces nationwide, the statement added.

Security forces also seized 1,781 kg (3926 lb.) of hashish, 148 kg (326 lb.) of heroin, 8.5 kg (18 lb.) of methamphetamines, 314,401 illicit drug pills, 1.12 million pieces of raw hemp, 555,486 packages of smuggled cigarettes, and 25,315 liters of smuggled oil.

The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and EU, resumed its nearly 40-year armed campaign against the Turkish state in July 2015. In Syria, the group goes by the name the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and its armed wing the People's Protection Units (YPG).

The terrorist group 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.