71 caves, shelters destroyed in Gurz-17 ops targeting PKK/YPG terrorists
Footage from the a camera attached to the Türkiye's J-ATAK attack helicopter during the Gurz-17 operations. (via Turkish Interior Ministry)
In a significant counterterrorism operation, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced that 71 caves, shelters and hideouts used by terrorists in 10 provinces were destroyed during the Gurz-17 operations.
The operation was part of Türkiye‘s ongoing efforts to dismantle terrorist activities in rural areas.
Terrorist caves, shelters destroyed in Gurz-17 operations
Yerlikaya shared the details of the operation on his social media account, emphasizing the coordinated efforts of various security units.
“The lairs prepared by the separatist terrorist organization for logistical purposes and for carrying out actions were identified one by one and destroyed,” he said.
“I congratulate our heroic gendarmerie who carried out the operations. Our nation’s prayers are with you,” Yerlikaya added.
Details of Gurz-17 operation
The Gurz-17 operations were conducted by provincial gendarmerie commands in Sirnak, Siirt, Mardin, Van, Hakkari, Hatay, Bingol, Diyarbakir, Tunceli and Agri, under the coordination of the Gendarmerie General Command’s Counterterrorism and Intelligence Departments.
The operation involved 234 teams, comprising 3,172 personnel from the Gendarmerie Special Operations (JOH), Gendarmerie Commando units and local security guards, supported by J-SIHA and J-ATAK helicopters.
Caves destroyed, weapons seized
In the operations aimed at eliminating the hideouts of terrorist groups in rural areas, 71 caves, shelters and hideouts were destroyed. According to Yerlikaya, a wide range of weapons, explosives and materials intended for terrorist attacks were seized, including:
- 1303 anti-aircraft ammunition
- 360 hand grenades
- 257 kilogram of explosives prepared for attacks
- 141 mines
- 80 RPG-7 ammunition rounds
- 32 improvised explosive device (IEDs)
- 16 mortar and rocket launcher rounds
- 7,624 rounds of ammunition of various calibers
- 2 RPG-7 rocket launchers
- 112 rocket motors
- 1 PKM machine gun
- 9 Kalashnikov rifles
- 1 Zagros sniper rifle
- 365 detonators
Additional equipment, materials seized
Yerlikaya further detailed the equipment confiscated during the operations across several provinces, including Sirnak, Siirt, Mardin, Van, Hakkari and others. The list included:
- 22 IED ignition devices
- Three solar panels
- Four trail camera batteries
- 540 meters of fuse for IED manufacturing
- 780 meters of electrical wiring
- 110 kilogram of ammonium nitrate
- 282 gas cylinders
- Four binoculars, including thermal and rifle-mounted sights
- A large number of organizational documents
