Turkish security forces have killed 99 Kurdish militants, including a high-ranking one, in operations in southeast Turkey over the last two weeks, the armed forces said on Saturday. Security forces targeted outposts and caves used by the militants for shelter and storage in the southeastern Provinces of Sirnak and Hakkari, near the Iraqi border, the military said in a statement.

“Ninety-nine terrorists have been neutralised. One is in the so-called leading ranks,” it said. The outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party has bases in the mountains on both sides of the Turkey-Iraq border.

The operations, which were carried out between Aug. 24 and Sept. 7, led to the seizure of 420 kg of ammonium nitrate, used to make explosives as well as guns, the military said.