Gen. Arif Çetin, General Commander of the Gendarmerie, and Mehmet Aktaş, General Director of Police, are leading the operation from Mardin's Midyat district.

Diyarbakır Gendarmerie District Commander Major General Halis Zafer Koç is in the field as operations commander in Mardin, said Turkish Armed Forces in a statement.

"117 teams and 750 personnel are participating in the operation," said Gen. Arif Çetin, providing information regarding the operation.

Stating that the number of troops in operation increase sometimes, Gen Arif Çetin noted that the number of terrorists domestically is below 600 at the moment.

"Terrorists can no longer carry out actions. Our orders are to search, find and decimate the terrorist. The operation has been going on as planned since yesterday evening," he added.

ILKHA