PKK infiltrates into Turkey from Syria’s Assad-held Latakia - INTR Minister

Turkish interior Minister Süleyman Soylu said Thursday that PKK terrorists are infiltrating into Turkey’s Aegean and Mediterranean regions through the Syrian port city of Latakia, which is under Assad regime control, amid a rising number of operations targeting the terrorist group in the region.

Upon receiving intelligence, Turkish police and gendarmerie units detected Thursday a group of seven terrorists in southwestern Turkey’s Muğla province. Military commando and police special operations units cordoned-off the forest area in Köyceğiz district.

In the armed clash, five terrorists were killed, and the operation continues to locate and capture two remaining terrorists. One soldier suffered injuries to his foot.

Four terrorists and three collaborators were also detained Wednesday at a police checkpoint in Seydikemer district. Authorities stated that the two groups were acting independently from each other.

Speaking about the latest operation, Soylu said that the PKK, upon increased security measures on the border with Iran, Iraq and PKK/PYD-held Efrin in Syria, is now seeking to infiltrate into Turkey through the Aegean and the Mediterranean seas.

Controlled by the Assad regime since the outbreak of the Syrian revolution, Latakia is Syria’s main seaport and the largest city on the Mediterranean.