Turkey: 1,300+ terrorists neutralized in past 10 months

By Orhan Onur Gemici and Sertac Bulur

ANKARA (AA) - A total of 1,313 terrorists have been neutralized over the past 10 months in Turkey’s anti-terror operations against the YPG/PKK, FETO -- the group behind the defeated 2016 coup -- Daesh/ISIS, and other terrorist groups.

Turkish security forces arrested nearly 44,000 people, including over 11,000 YPG/PKK suspects, 29,752 FETO suspects, 2,491 Daesh/ISIS suspects, and 701 suspected members of leftist terror groups, according to information compiled by Anadolu Agency.

Over 8,000 people -- including 2,143 PKK suspects, 4,907 FETO suspects, 821 Daesh/ISIS suspects, and 160 leftist terror groups suspects -- were remanded in custody.

During operations, Turkish security forces also seized 1,388 weapons, 526 improvised explosive devices (IEDs), 808 hand grenades, 38.6 tons of explosives, and 257,000 packs of ammunition.

Thanks to Turkish security forces' decisive efforts over the last 10 months, 257 terror attacks were prevented, including 247 by the YPG/PKK, three by Daesh, and seven by leftist terror groups.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union -- has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including women, children and infants. The YPG is the PKK’s Syrian offshoot.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup on July 15, 2016, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.

Since recognizing Daesh as a terror group in 2013, Turkey has been attacked by Daesh/ISIS terrorists numerous times, including 10 suicide bombings, seven bombings, and four armed attacks which killed 315 people and injured hundreds.

In response to the attacks, Turkey launched anti-terror operations at home and abroad, neutralizing 3,500 Daesh terrorists and arresting 5,500.

* Writing by Zehra Nur Duz