Turkish security forces have killed five armed PKK, two outlawed Marxist-Leninist Communist Party (MLKP) terrorists and arrested five Daesh members in anti-terror operations across Turkey on Saturday.
The Turkish Armed Forces said in a statement that four armed PKK terrorists, who were plotting a terror attack in the Başkale district of Van province, were killed in an aerial operation early Saturday.
Another PKK terrorist was killed in an encounter with security forces in the Hani district of Diyarbakır province, a gendarmerie source said on condition of anonymity.
The gendarmes also seized one M16 rifle, two hand grenades and a military grade radio in the operation, the source added.
Two MLKP terrorists were captured dead in another anti-terror operation in the eastern Tunceli province. Police seized two AK-47 machine guns and 210 rounds as well as three hand grenades and one improvised explosive device in the aftermath of the operation.
Security forces seized C-4 explosives and rocket launchers as well as a large amount of ammonium nitrate and aluminum powder, used in making explosives, in other another anti-terror operation targeting PKK terrorists in Elazığ province.
Police also arrested five suspected Daesh terrorists after stopping a car in the southern border province of Hatay in a joint operation with intelligence officers.
While four of the suspects surrendered, one tried to attack a police officer and was shot and injured.
Three of the suspects were reportedly Turkish nationals, while the other two were Syrians, with one of them being sought by security forces.
Meanwhile, the interior ministry announced that four PKK terrorists who were killed in an anti-terror operation Tuesday were responsible for the killing of two district deputy chairs of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) in 2016 and 2017 in Özalp district of eastern Van province.
More than 1,200 people, including members of security forces and civilians, have lost their lives since the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and EU – resumed its decades-old armed campaign in July 2015.