Türkiye pledged to anti-terror operations: Turkish defence minister

Ankara, The Gulf Observer: More than 2,150 PKK terrorists have been “neutralised” since January 1, Turkish National Defence Minister Yasar Guler said.

“The total number of terrorists neutralised since the beginning of the year has reached 2,156,” Guler told Turkish pilots who conducted airstrikes Saturday in northern Iraq and Syria to eliminate terrorists.

“No treacherous member of any terrorist organisation can escape the grasp of our heroic soldiers,” said Guler on Sunday.

His remarks came after 12 Turkish soldiers were killed and six were injured by PKK terrorists in northern Iraq.

PKK/YPG terrorists often hide out across Türkiye’s border in northern Iraq and Syria, where they plot attacks on Turkish forces or the local populations.

Türkiye launched Operation Claw-Lock last year in April to target the PKK terror group’s hideouts in the Metina, Zap, and Avasin-Basyan regions of northern Iraq, located near the Turkish border.

“The operations will continue with an unyielding offensive approach until the bloody terrorists disappear from this geography, regardless of whoever supports them, amidst escalating violence and pressure,” stressed Guler.

Turkish authorities use “neutralise” to imply the terrorists in question surrendered, were killed or captured.

In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK — listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US, and EU — has been responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.

Turkish security forces have “neutralised” 16 terrorists in northern Iraq, the National Defence Ministry has said on Saturday, after 12 Turkish soldiers were killed in two days of terrorist attacks.

The ministry added that an air operation was carried out at 1900 GMT (22:00 local time) on terrorist targets in northern Iraq and Syria, and a total of 29 targets including caves, shelters and warehouses used by terrorists were destroyed.

The terrorists were “neutralised” in the Claw-Lock Operation region, a ministry statement on Saturday said, implying that the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.

The terrorists’ affiliation was not specified, but the PKK terror group has been known to be active in the region. PKK terrorists often hide out across the border in northern Iraq to plot terror attacks in Türkiye.

The targets were detected to have been containing terrorists responsible for the attacks, including some senior members, and many terrorists were neutralised, it added.