14 Daesh terrorists 'neutralized' in north Syria

By Duygu Yener and Ferdi Turkten

ANKARA (AA) – A total of 14 Daesh terrorists were "neutralized" in northern Syria over the last 24 hours as part of Turkish-backed Operation Euphrates Shield, the Turkish military said Saturday.

Turkish authorities use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply the terrorists in question were killed, captured, or surrounded.

The Turkish Armed Forces also hit 197 Daesh targets in northern Syria, said a Turkish General Staff statement on the 158th day of the operation.

In a weekly report issued on Saturday, the army said it neutralized 2,156 Daesh and 321 PKK/PYD terrorists since the beginning of the operation.

In addition, 3,282 improvised explosives and 55 mines were destroyed and 1,332 positions hit by Turkish Air Forces, the report said.

Operation Euphrates Shield began in late August to tighten border security, eliminate the terror threat along Turkish borders, and support opposition forces in Syria. The Free Syrian Army is backed by Turkish artillery and jets as a part of the operation.

The army also said a total of 12 PKK terrorists were neutralized in Turkey's southeastern Diyarbakir and Sirnak provinces as well as eastern Tunceli, Bitlis and Agri provinces between Jan 19-26.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization in Turkey, the U.S. and EU. It has waged a terror campaign against Turkey for more than 30 years during which more than 40,000 people have been killed.