Turkey establishing new military base in SE Turkey

Turkish military is establishing a new military base on the high altitude areas in southeastern Hakkari province as part of counter-terrorism operation against PKK terrorists, security sources said on Wednesday.

The military base is being established by Turkish forces at Mt. Balkaya at the altitude of 2,400 meters in Hakkari's Şemdinli district near northern Iraq's border, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on talking to the media.

Also, they said, 14 improvised explosive devices planted by the terrorists have been destroyed since March 19, as part of the anti-terror operations being conducted in the district.

The anti-terror raids aim to prevent border crossing of the PKK terrorists.

The PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- resumed its armed campaign against Turkey in July 2015.

Since then, it has been responsible for the deaths of more than 1,200 Turkish security personnel and civilians, including a number of women and children.