Türkiye launches new anti-terror operation in east

By Ahmet Kaplan and Omer Yasin Ergin

DIYARBAKIR, Türkiye (AA) – Turkish security forces on Saturday launched another counter-terrorism operation in the country's east, the interior minister said.

The operation, called the Eren Abluka Autumn Winter-18 Martyr Gendarmerie Lieutenant Hubeyib Turan, started in the provinces of Diyarbakir, Bingol, Mus, and Batman with 3,650 security personnel, Suleyman Soylu said while inspecting a military base zone in Diyarbakir.

Eren Abluka Autumn Winter-18 will be the “biggest Eren operation" carried out by Turkish security forces against terrorists in the region so far, Soylu noted.

Türkiye initiated Eren operations last year, naming them after Eren Bulbul, a 15-year-old boy killed by the PKK terror group on Aug. 11, 2017.

In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US, and the EU – has been responsible for the deaths of over 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.

*Writing by Zehra Nur Duz