Turkish interior minister signals new wave of anti-PKK operations

Interior Minister Efkan Ala signaled on March 11 the start of new operations against militants linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in southeastern Turkey, following the conclusion of military operations targeting the militant group in two southeastern towns.

"Eight districts have been cleared. But there are still trenches and barricades in Yüksekova, downtown ??rnak and Nusaybin. The information we have gathered shows bombing traps placed there, so clearances will be conducted in those districts too," Ala told reporters in Ankara on March 11, heralding fresh military operations in Yüksekova, a district in the southeastern province of Hakkari; the central district of the southeastern province of ??rnak; and Nusaybin, a district in the southeastern province of Mardin.

"No matter where they are, all barricades will be removed. We're going to start operations after necessary preparations," Ala said, adding that curfews would be announced to residents of Nusaybin, downtown ??rnak and Yüksekova before going into effect.

"The starting of operations has been communicated to our citizens by local officials a few days - or sometimes half-a-day - in advance," he stated.

Turkey has recently conducted sweeping ground operations targeting the PKK in the southeast, with local governors imposing curfews in several towns to remove militants from the area as well as to remove barricades and trenches.

Clashes during operations against the militant group have seen casualties among Turkish security forces, militants and some locals.

Most recently, Specialized Sergeant Vedat Öz, who was wounded on Feb. 18 in clashes with the PKK in Sur, a district in the southeastern province of Diyarbak?r, succumbed to his injuries...