Turkish forces engage 80 PKK militants in eastern Turkey
TUNCELİ - Doğan News Agency (DHA)
DHA photo
Turkish military launched an operation on a large group of militants in a rural area in the eastern province of Tunceli today.
Around 80 suspected members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) were located by Turkish security forces near the Aliboğazı area in Tunceli's Hozat district earlier in the day.
Soldiers from the 51st Infantry Battalion and gendarmerie special forces from Hozat were dropped by helicopters to strategic points in the area, while Cobra gunships bombarded designated targets.
A brief clash occurred when commandos came in contact with PKK militants, which ended with militants fleeing into a forested area. Gunships bombarded possible escape routes while more commandos were dropped in.
Initial reports did not report any casualties.
The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.
