2015 Hakkari assault explained

Conflict:June–2015 South-Eastern Hakkari assault
Partof:Kurdish–Turkish conflict (2015–present)
Date:Phases:
  • September–November 2015 (duration of assault) [1]
  • July–September 2015 (duration of limited scale operations)
Place:Hakkâri Province, Turkey
Result:Turkish victory
  • Successful operation.
Combatant1: Turkey
Combatant2: Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)
Casualties1:6 killed
Casualties2:119 killed[2]

2015 South-Western Hakkari assault[3] refers to a large-scale operation of the Turkish military against Kurdish insurgents in the mountains of south-eastern Turkey, within the frame of the Kurdish–Turkish conflict resulting in the elimination of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) mountain force structure network resulting in 119 militants killed and an estimated thousands of militants retreating to Iraq. The large scale assault was launched early September 2015 by the Turkish Army commando battalions and concluded in early November 2015.[4] [2]

Timeline

According to Turkish sources, on 5 November 2015, the military killed at least 31 PKK militants in ongoing security operations in Turkey’s southeastern Hakkari province within 24 hours. According to statements posted on the Turkish General Staff website, the military killed 15 PKK on Wednesday and another 16 members of the organization on Thursday in ongoing security operations in Hakkari province’s Yüksekova district.[5]

Anadolu Agency reported local Turkish army sources as saying that the operation in Hakkari lasted from September 27 to November 5 and targeted PKK mountain hideouts, seizing or destroying anti-aircraft guns and other heavy weapons.[3] Troops also destroyed 18 handmade bunkers and an ammunition cache, an army statement said.

Casualties

Turkey announced that during the operation, 119 PKK militants were killed and anti-aircraft guns were seized. 6 Turkish soldiers were killed during the operation.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Turkey: '31 PKK terrorists' killed in Hakkari operation. Anadolu Agency.
  2. Web site: Turkish military clears PKK bases in southeastern Hakkari, kills 119 terrorists. 6 November 2015. DailySabah. 9 April 2016. 20 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160420000906/http://www.dailysabah.com/nation/2015/11/06/turkish-military-clears-pkk-bases-in-southeastern-hakkari-kills-119-terrorists. dead.
  3. http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/turkey/071120151 Middle East News
  4. Web site: Turkey breaks new ground in southeast reconstruction - Al-Monitor: the Pulse of the Middle East. Al-Monitor.
  5. Web site: Turkey: '31 PKK terrorists' killed in Hakkari operation. Anadolu Agency.