Operation Murat

Operation Murat
Part of Kurdish–Turkish conflict

Location of Hakkâri within Turkey
DateApril–May 1998[1]
LocationSouth-Eastern Turkey
Result Security Forces fail to capture Murat Karayılan
Belligerents
 Turkey PKK
Commanders and leaders
Turkey 24 Generals[1] Murat Karayılan
Strength
40,000[1] 450[1]
Casualties and losses

3 killed

1 aircraft downed[2]

58 killed

3+ captured[2]

Operation Murat, which was launched on 23 April 1998,[3] by the Turkish Army against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in the Turkey's South-Eastern Hakkâri Province. It is said to have been the largest Turkish military operation in the entire Kurdish–Turkish conflict or even the largest Turkish military operation since the foundation of the Republic of Turkey.[1]

The Turkish Army used 40,000 troops to pursue 450 Kurdish guerillas led by Murat Karayılan.[1] Turkish forces however failed to kill or capture Karayılan after they cornered him in Kulp, Diyarbakir, in May.[4]

During the first three days of the operation, there were clashes in Diyarbakir, Bingöl, Muş and Bitlis. Within Diyarbakir province, the clashes were concentrated around Kulp, Lice and Hani and in Bingöl Province, they were centered on Genç. The military declared they killed 58 militants, captured 3 militants and lost 3 security forces during the first three days. Militants downed a military plane in Kulp, whereafter an Armenian businessman was detained.[2]

Pro-PKK sources have alleged that former PKK military commander Şemdin Sakık aided Turkish forces during the operation, after he was captured by Turkish forces shortly after leaving the PKK to join forces with the Kurdistan Democratic Party.[5]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 The Invisible War in North Kurdistan (page 102)
  2. 1 2 3 "TURKEY - From the papers". Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  3. ↑ "The Kurdish Conflict in Turkey". Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  4. ↑ "The Economist - World News, Politics, Economics, Business & Finance". The Economist. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  5. ↑ The Şemdin Sakık Show

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