Turkey: Huge terrorist PKK ammunition seized in N.Iraq

By Muhammed Boztepe

ANKARA (AA) - The Turkish military seized a huge cache of weapons and ammunition during an anti-terror operation in northern Iraq, the Turkish National Defense Ministry said on Friday.

"Our hero commandos captured numerous arms, ammunition, and survival supplies in shelters of the [terrorist] PKK," said a ministry statement on Operation Claw-Tiger, one of its anti-terror operations in the region.

The PKK often uses northern Iraq to plan attacks in Turkey, across the border.

The seized items included one 60-milimeter howitzer, five 60-mm mortar shells, nine 120-milimeters mortar shells, marksman rifle ammunition, 10 kilograms (22 pounds) of improvised explosive devices, 250 grams (0.55 pounds) of gunpowder, 255 kg (562 lb.) of ammonium nitrate, 10 oxygen tubes, many gas masks, 20 thermal umbrellas, 20 engine batteries, fuel, survival supplies, and organizational documents.

The operation is continuing, it added.

Turkey's operations Claw-Tiger and Claw-Eagle were launched last month to ensure the safety of the Turkish people and borders by neutralizing the threat of the PKK and other terrorist groups in the region.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US and EU – has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.

* Writing by Fahri Aksut