2 PKK terrorists ‘neutralized’ in SE Turkey

By Selma Kasap

ANKARA (AA) - Two PKK terrorists have been "neutralized" in anti-terror operations in Turkey’s southeastern Hakkari province's Semdinli district, the Turkish military announced on Monday.

Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply that the terrorist in question was either killed or captured.

The Turkish General Staff also said that a PKK/PYD member trying to cross into Syria from Turkey’s southeastern Sanliurfa province's Akcakale district was taken into custody.

Two improvised explosive devices were destroyed in the southeastern provinces of Diyarbakir and Sirnak, in the Lice and Silopi districts respectively.

Also during the ongoing operations in the eastern Anatolian province of Bitlis, four shelters were seized.

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

Over 1,208 people, including security personnel and civilians, have lost their lives in PKK attacks since the terrorist organization resumed its decades-old campaign in July 2015.

Since July 20, 2015, PKK attacks have left 871 security personnel martyred and 337 civilians dead. Over 4,000 security personnel and over 2,000 civilians have been injured.

In anti-terror operations, more than 10,000 PKK terrorists have been killed or apprehended. Around 5,500 weapons, 652,000 rounds of ammunition, over 142 tons of explosives and 15,000 bombs have been seized.