22 June 2018•Update: 23 June 2018
By Baris Gundogan
ANKARA
Turkish military neutralized 87 PKK terrorists during counter-terrorism operations in southeastern Turkey's Sirnak province and northern Iraq over the past week, the military said on Friday.
Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply that the terrorists in question were either killed, captured or surrendered.
Six Turkish soldiers were also martyred and 12 others wounded during the operations carried out between June 15 and June 21.
During the operations, 127 improvised explosives were also defused while 12 weapon emplacements and shelters were destroyed, it added.
The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey as well as the U.S. and the EU.
In its terror campaign against Turkey, which has lasted for more than three decades, over 40,000 people have been killed, including women and children.
Furthermore, the statement said 3,767 people were also held in the same period in June, while they were trying to pass through borders illegally.
On Monday, the Turkish and U.S. forces began patrols in Syria's Manbij in line with a deal which was first announced after a meeting in Washington last week between Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Regarding Turkey's Operation Olive Branch in northwestern Syria, the statement said 4,509 terrorists were neutralized since the start of the operation, while 54 Turkish soldiers were martyred and 233 others were wounded.
The statement also said since the start of the operation, 240 landmines and 1,276 improvised explosives had been defused.
Turkey on Jan. 20 launched Operation Olive Branch to remove YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists from northwest of Afrin.
On March 18, Turkish troops and Free Syrian Army members liberated the town of Afrin, on the 58th day of the operation.
