Terrorists neutralized in N Iraq on Turkey’s wanted list

By Baris Gundogan

ANKARA (AA) – Two PKK terrorists, previously neutralized in a Turkish operation in northern Iraq, were revealed to be in Turkey’s most-wanted list, security sources said on Thursday.

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

The terrorists were recently neutralized in a joint air-backed operation of Turkish Armed Forces and the National Intelligence Organization in Gara region, northern Iraq.

The terrorists were identified as Servet Aydin -- codenamed Gulciya -- and Soylemez Yasar -- codenamed Tekosin Batman -- who were inscribed on the red category of Turkey’s wanted terrorists.

The terrorists were the so-called senior members of the the PKK/KCK terrorist group.

The wanted list is divided into five color-coded categories, with red as the most wanted, followed by blue, green, orange and gray.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including many women, children, and infants.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar