Turkey: 642 PKK terrorists neutralized since January

By Sertac Bulur

ANKARA

Turkish security forces have neutralized more than 600 PKK terrorists in nationwide counter-terrorism operations since the beginning of this year, Interior Ministry said Monday.

According to the statement issued by the ministry, the security forces conducted a total of 4,786 operations since Jan. 1 until early Monday.

Out of 642 neutralized PKK terrorists, 316 were killed, 187 were captured alive, six were injured and 133 others surrendered.

The security forces destroyed 657 terrorist hideouts and seized 352 improvised explosive devices and mines, 1,610 hand grenades, 2,000 long and short barrel weapons and 33 tons of explosive materials.

Separately on May 15-22, security forces conducted a total of 541 operations against PKK, in which 44 terrorists were neutralized -- of them 28 were killed, eight were captured alive and eight others surrendered.

During the last week's operation, as many as 222 suspects were arrested for aiding and abetting the PKK, 72 for having suspected links with Daesh, 966 for having alleged connections with FETO, and 24 for their alleged links with leftist terrorist groups.

Meanwhile, Turkish General Staff said Monday that two PKK terrorists surrendered to security officials in the southeastern Hakkari province.

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

Since then, it has been responsible for the deaths of some 1,200 Turkish security personnel and civilians, including a number of women and children.