Kurdish–Turkish conflict

Security forces detained at least 19 suspects, including the deputy mayor of Istanbul's Şişli district over their alleged links to the PKK/KCK terror group, sources have said.

As part of an investigation, earlier detention warrants were issued for a total of 25 suspects.

Turkey has deported nearly 9,000 foreign terrorists so far, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told the Group of 20 Summit on Nov. 22.

"Although we were left alone, we have nabbed nearly 9,000 foreign terrorist fighters and sent them back to their countries," Erdoğan said at the virtually organized summit.

A Turkish soldier was killed in the southeastern Hakkari province, the country's Defense Ministry said on Aug. 28.

Infantry Ümit Çıkın, who lost his balance and fell in a position where he was on duty in the Şemdinli district, was killed on Aug. 28, the ministry's office of press and public relations said in a statement.

A Turkish soldier was fatally wounded during an anti-terror operation in eastern Turkey, a security source said late on Aug. 27.   

Specialized Sergeant Çetin Ak was struck by shrapnel during the destruction of materials found in a cave in Ağri province. 

Turkish security forces "neutralized" at least nine PKK terrorists in northern Iraq, the Defense Ministry announced on Aug. 15.

Three of the terrorists were neutralized in air-backed operations in Haftanin, and another six terrorists in the Zap and Avasin regions, the ministry said on Twitter.

Turkey is fully focused on protecting its rights in the Eastern Mediterranean, Libya, and the Aegean, the nation's president said on Aug. 15.

Turkey is also focused on stopping terrorist groups in Syria and northern Iraq, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said in Rize on the Turkish Black Sea, speaking to the public and local members of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

The PKK terrorist organization, which attacks Turkey from regions in Iraq where it has nested, also challenges Iraq's sovereignty, territorial integrity, security and stability, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Aug. 12. 

Turkey will continue its cross-border operations against the illegal PKK group in northern Iraq if Baghdad continues to overlook the group's presence in the region, the Foreign Ministry said on Aug. 13, urging Iraqi authorities to cooperate with Ankara.

A new anti-terrorism operation has been initiated in the south of Turkey, the country's interior minister announced on Aug. 12.

At least 1,448 security personnel will be part of Operation Yıldırım-5 in the southern province of Hatay's Amanos Mountains, Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu said at an inauguration ceremony.

Turkey continues to block NATO defense plans for Poland and Baltic states despite a deal in London last year between Turkey's president and allied leaders, three allied diplomats and a French defense official said on Wednesday.

Diplomats said while Ankara has approved the plan, known as Eagle Defender, it has not allowed NATO military chiefs to put it into action.