Turkey ends "successful" military operations in CizreFebruary 11, 2016 - 17:26 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey's military on Thursday, February 11 ended a "successful" operation to root out Kurdish militants from the southeastern town of Cizre, the country's interior minister said, according to the Associated Press. Efkan Ala said, however, that a 24-hour curfew that bars residents from leaving their homes and has prevented observers from entering Cizre, will remain in place for a while longer as the security forces continue to secure the town that is close to the borders with Syria and Iraq. Turkey imposed curfews in Cizre and other mainly Kurdish towns and districts in December while its security forces battled militants linked to the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, who set up barricades, dug trenches and primed explosives in the areas they have declared to be under Kurdish self-rule. Tens of thousands of people have been displaced in the military operations. "The operations in Cizre ended in a very successful manner," Ala said. "The curfew will continue for a while because there are booby traps, there could be land mines in some areas that could harm our people." "It will take a while to fill in the trenches and remove the barricades, however, as of today ... control has been established over the area," he said, AP reports. At least 597 militants have been killed in Cizre, according to a military statement on Thursday. The fighting between the security forces and the PKK, which wants autonomy for Kurds, flared anew in July, shattering a fragile peace process. More than 40,000 people have died in the three-decade-long conflict. The Turkish Human Rights Foundation says at least 224 civilians, including 42 children, have died in the combat areas under curfew since August. Government officials say more than 200 security force members have died since July. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Ucom Celebrates Telecommunication Day May 17 commemorates the founding of the International Telecommunication Union on May 17, 1865. Armenian, Azerbaijani heads of parliament meet in Switzerland President of the Armenian parliament Alen Simonyan met with the Speaker of the Azerbaijani Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova. Border residents overnight on highway to protest Armenia’s Residents of Kirants continue to express outrage over the government’s decision to cede land to Azerbaijan. Get Started: An educational platform for young startuppers The Get Started program which operates in two phases is an important platform for young startuppers. |