Turkish forces looked to double-down on recent military gains against the Kurdish PKK over the weekend, claiming to have “neutralized” more than 100 PKK fighters in the areas. The number killed versus the number wounded is totally unclear, and officials reported the PKK had taken the casualties into northern Iraq.
Turkish forces continued their attacks overnight, launching at least 13 airstrikes against PKK targets in the area, and claiming that a senior PKK figure named Hakan Yeni was among the slain in the past four days of offensives. The overall toll has not been disclosed.
At least 13 Turkish soldiers were also reported killed over the weekend, five in the Hakkari Province and another eight in and around Van. Heavy fighting continued across the area, with no signs of letting up.
The secessionist PKK has been fighting the Turkish military off and on for over 30 years. A ceasefire between the two sides was abandoned last summer by the Erdogan government, and since then both sides have been escalating the fighting dramatically.