An operation by the Turkish army that was launched more than a week ago in the area surrounding the Bagok massif in the Kurdish district of Nusaybin (Nisêbîn) has been expanded. Mezopotamya Agency cited local sources saying that the area of ​​operations has included at least nine villages since Thursday. At the start of the operation on Monday last week, the operation was still focused on three areas.

The towns affected by the military operation in the south of the province of Mardin (Mêrdîn) are currently Mesîlka, Çalê Kevir, Mahlo, Himyê Xezin, Mahsere Simaqa, Benderke Çiyayê Bagok and Marîn.

In Xirbê Mişka and Sedderîye, where the offensive was launched, the operation appears to have ended. According to the report, the remaining villages are surrounded by the army. In addition to regular soldiers, paramilitary special units of the gendarmerie are also involved in the operation.

The aim of the operation was to locate the positions of the Kurdish PKK guerrillas. Military helicopters and reconnaissance drones are also being used for this purpose. Last week, the Barahawşo region, which is home to a cemetery where fallen PKK members are buried, was bombed from the air. A few days before the attack began, on 25 October, guerrilla commander Memed Cûdî was killed in Mardin in unclear circumstances.