Turkey: Anti-PKK operations in Diyarbakir April 19

Event

At least four members of the PKK Kurdish militant group were arrested or killed during anti-terrorist operations carried out in Diyarbakir province's Hani, Kulp, and Lice districts on Thursday, April 19. During the operation, 30,000 cannabis plants were also reportedly discovered.

Context

Turkey has faced a Kurdish insurgency since 1984, spearheaded by the PKK, which was renewed in 2015 following the dissolution of a ceasefire. Tensions between the Turkish state and Kurdish populations have intensified further since the launch of Operation Olive Branch, a Turkish offensive against Kurdish groups in Syria, in January 2018. The conflict has left over 40,000 people dead since 1984 and associated violence continues to pose a significant security risk in southeastern Turkey.

Advice

Due to the Turkish government's ongoing conflicts with the PKK some Western governments advise against travel to areas much of the southeast, notably areas along the Syrian and Iraqi borders.