ANKARA - Gen. Yasar Buyukanit, chief of Turkish General Staff, said Monday that the target of ground operations was not Qandil mountain but Zap region.
Briefing the media on the cross-border ground operation at General Staff's HQs in Ankara, Gen. Buyukanit said Zap was the target of the ground operation as this region was where the terrorist organisation planned and conducted its attacks.
"This area is the brain of the armed terrorist attacks. Qandil mountain on the otherhand is where they have the training and the logistics. Therefore, we have planned a ground operation targeting Zap region and we have executed it, " said Buyukanit.
Buyukanit recalled that Turkish Armed Forces had given the greatest losses in the past because of explosives. He pointed out that they specifically chose winter for the timing of the operation as they knew explosives, "PKK's usual method of attacks", could not be detonated in this season.
"We did not even loose one soldier because of explosives this time," said Buyukanit.
Buyukanit stressed that from Generals to privates, all the participating units, were on foot, as the terrain and weather conditions did not allow vehicles.
"Carrying out an operation in such weather conditions, on such a terrain where the snow is very thick, requires great physical strength and stamina. This operation is a proof of the level of sophistication and physical strength our troops have reached," said Buyukanit.
Gen. Buyukanit underlined that "the job" was not complete yet with the ground operation staged against terrorist PKK. "We will stage further operations as we see necessary," Gen. Buyukanit stressed.
"240 terrorists have been rendered ineffective during the ground operation. We are sure that the terrorists lost more than 240 lives. The damage perpetrated on terrorist PKK organization by the Turkish Air Force have not been included in our assessments," Gen. Buyukanit also said.