The Turkish army has killed over 400 members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), outlawed in Turkey, since August 29 during anti-terrorist operations, the country's General Staff said Monday.

"Our army resolutely and persistently continues to fight the PKK separatist terrorist group. Since August 29, 537 terrorists have been neutralized, among them 417 have been killed, 61 have been injured, 41 have surrendered and 18 have been captured. The army has also seized large quantities of weapons and ammunition belonging to terrorists. A total of 88 our servicemen have been killed and 152 injured during the operations," the General Staff's statement obtained by RIA Novosti read.

According to the statement, the Turkish military have managed to considerably decrease the combat capacity of the PKK in recent weeks.

Tensions between Ankara and the PKK escalated in July 2015 when a ceasefire between the sides collapsed over a series of terror attacks allegedly committed by the PKK members. Turkish authorities have imposed several round-the-clock curfews in Kurdish-populated towns in country's southeast, preventing civilians from fleeing the regions where the military operations are taking place. In Turkey, Kurds represent the largest ethnic minority, and are striving to create their own independent state; Sputnik reported.

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