Turkish military cancels New Year's celebrations

The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) has announced that it canceled its program of the New Year's celebration due to the ongoing operations in the Cizre, Silopi and Sur towns of Şırnak and Diyarbakır provinces in southeastern Turkey.

"The decision was given by taking into consideration of the situation of the residents and the soldiers in southeastern Turkey, " said Brigadier General Ertugrulgazi Özkürkçü, the secretary of the Press and Public Relations Department.

“Starting from December 15, the soldiers who participated in the ongoing operations in the Cizre, Silopi and Sur towns, have been working with a great cooperation," Özkürkçü said.

"We cancelled our New Year program in order to show our respect to the residents of the region who have been facing difficulties due to the terrorist attacks and the soldiers who were martyred and injured during the operation," the source added.

Özkürkçü also recalled that the Turkish military cancelled its program due to the Van earthquake in 2012.

Turkey has carrying out operations in southeastern Turkey against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), placing areas under curfews and often engaging the PKK in armed clashes.

Thousands of residents in eastern Turkey have left their homes as the PKK has been threatening the security of civilians by attacking mosques and schools and terrorizing the region.

The PKK is a terrorist organization that has been carrying out terror attacks, mostly in southeastern Turkey, since the early 1980s.