Turkish government has imposed curfews in more than 40 villages in southeastern province of Diyarbakir early Tuesday as part of a security operation against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), the governor’s office in Diyarbakır said in a written statement. The curfews in 43 villages in Lice, Hani, Kocaköy and Dicle districts started on early Tuesday and will remain in place until further notice, according to the statement.
Turkish security forces will conduct an operation in the rural areas of Diyarbakır in order to “neutralize” PKK terrorists including senior members and their collaborators operating in the region, continued the statement. The operation also aims to destroy terrorists’ bunkers, arms depots, and anti-aircraft gun emplacements, as well as seize their weapons and ammunition.
Meanwhile, curfews were lifted in almost 60 other villages in the same districts on Tuesday, the statement added. These curfews were declared on Sunday.
According to media, the operation in the countryside of Diyarbakır four districts has been joined by 7 thousand soldiers, around 800 special operations police and 12 guard teams, including troops from 7th Corps Command, Diyarbakır and Bingöl Provincial Gendarme Commands and district commando battalions.
Turkish government intensifies military build-up in Lice district center, from where troops conducted artillery attacks on the area between Sîsê and Dêrxus villages on Monday. While villagers cannot go out of their homes due to the operations, soldiers have blocked the roads leading to the villages.
Pro-Kurdish Şujin news agency has also reported that thousands of soldiers and armored vehicles have been dispatched to the countryside of Diyarbakır province following Diyarbakır Governorate’s declaration of a curfew in 59 villages and hamlets in the districts of Lice, Hazro, Kocaköy and Dicle late Sunday.
Over 1,200 people, including security forces and civilians, have lost their lives since Turkish government and the PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and EU, resumed clashes again in July 2015.
May 30, 2017
