Istanbul Police detained at least 16 PKK-linked suspects in counter-terror operations early Thursday.

Anti-terror squads carried out simultaneous raids in nine districts, including Maltepe, a security source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on talking to the media, told Anadolu Agency.

The suspects were reportedly providing accommodation for the PKK recruits awaiting to be transferred to rural areas.

During the operations, police detained 16 of 20 suspects sought, while also seizing a gun, digital material, cartridges and organizational documents.

Detained PKK suspects were transferred to Haseki Hospital for routine health checks and were then brought to Istanbul Police Headquarters for inquiry.

Turkey has been carrying out operations against the PKK and its affiliated groups inside and outside of the country over the past two years.

More than 1,200 people, including security force personnel and civilians, have lost their lives since the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization also by the U.S., and EU -- resumed its decades-old armed campaign in July 2015.