Aerial assaults kill 16 suspected PKK militants in SE Turkey

Fresh airstrikes conducted by the Turkish army on the country’s restive southeast have claimed the lives of 16 suspected Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants.

Turkish military and security sources said the air raids were carried out in the province of Hakkari over the past two days.

The Turkish military said in a statement that nine militants were killed in Tuesday’s strikes, in which a cave, a shelter and an ammunition depot were also demolished.

Additionally, security sources said seven other suspected militants lost their lives on Wednesday.

On Monday, a car bombing took place in the Turkish city of Van close to local government offices, wounding around 50 people, including police officers and Iranian citizens.

The PKK claimed responsibility for the blast, saying it was in retaliation for the killing by security forces of Kurdish youths and the sacking of two dozen mayors from Kurdish-run municipalities.

Last week, Ankara appointed new administrators in 24 Kurdish-run municipalities, most of them in the largely-Kurdish southeast, after removing their mayors over alleged militant links.

SS