Senior PKK terrorist group figure killed in Syria

ANKARA

Senior PKK terrorist group figure Fehman Huseyin, who was also known by his code name Bahoz Erdal, has been killed in Syria, a spokesman for the Syrian opposition brigade, Tel Hamis, told Anadolu Agency Saturday.

According to spokesman Halid el-Hasekavi, Huseyin's vehicle was blown up at 1730 GMT Friday when he was headed towards northeastern Al Qamishli city from Himo town in Syria.

At least eight people in the car, including Fehman Huseyin and his guards died following a long pursuit, the spokesman said.

Huseyin was in the red category of the Turkish Interior Ministry's most wanted terrorists’ list.

He was born in 1969 in Syria and had pursued medical education in Damascus. In early 90s, he joined the terrorist organization and used "Bahoz Erdal" and "Doctor Bahoz" as his codenames within the PKK.

Taking the helm of the organization's so-called military wing, People's Defense Forces, also known as the HPG, between 2004 and 2009, Huseyin is believed to behind attacks against Turkish military sentries in southeastern Turkey.

He is also said to have a say in the PYD group, a Syrian affiliate of the PKK, which was established in 2002 in Syria upon the instruction of the jailed PKK leader, Abdullah Ocalan.

The PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and EU – resumed its 30-year armed campaign against the Turkish state in July 2015.

Since then, nearly 600 security personnel, including troops, police officers, and village guards, have been martyred, and more than 5,000 PKK terrorists killed in operations across Turkey and northern Iraq.