A civilian died after an improvised explosive devise (IED), planted by the PKK terrorist group, detonated in southeastern Turkey's Mardin Sunday.
The deceased, identified as Yusuf Kurt, was hurt in the blast when inspecting a camera trap, The Mardin governor's office said. He later died at the Midyat State Hospital.
The PKK often attacks civilians, especially in southeastern Turkey. Earlier this month, seven civilians were killed and 10 others were injured when PKK terrorists targeted a vehicle, carrying forestry workers, with an IED in Diyarbakır. The vehicle was carrying 20 workers heading to the forest to collect wood.
Meanwhile, Turkish security forces killed 12 terrorists in counterterrorism operations in Turkey and abroad, the authorities confirmed Monday.
The Interior Ministry said Turkish security forces killed nine terrorists in southeastern Şırnak province.
In a written statement, the ministry said police and the gendarme carried out the operation. Security operations are still underway, the statement added.
Though the statement did not mention any specific terrorist group, Turkish forces have been conducting operations against the PKK terrorist organization in the region for a long time now.
Meanwhile, Turkish fighter jets killed three PKK terrorists in an airstrike targeting PKK terrorist elements in northern Iraq, according to the Defense Ministry.
The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), police and gendarme units and the National Intelligence Service (MİT), are supporting the counterterrorism operations.
PKK terrorists often use northern Iraq to plan cross-border terrorist attacks inside Turkey.
On May 27, Turkey launched Operation Claw against the PKK in northern Iraq's Hakurk region.
In mid-July and late August, Turkey launched Operation Claw-2 and Operation Claw-3 in the same region.
In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU – has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women and children.
