Turkey neutralizes 80 terrorists in past month

By Sarp Ozer

ANKARA (AA) Turkey has neutralized 80 terrorists in 31 operations in the past month, according to the country’s National Defense Ministry on Sunday.

“In the last month, 80 terrorists have been neutralized in 31 operations, including eight large-scale and 23 medium-scale,” the ministry said in a statement.

Turkish authorities use the word "neutralize" to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.

It added that a total of 348 terrorists have also been neutralized in cross-border Claw operations till date.

“As a result of operations, there has been a rise in the number of terrorists who surrendered and fled,” it said.

Turkey's operations Claw-Tiger and Claw-Eagle were launched in June to ensure the safety of the Turkish people and borders by neutralizing the threat of the PKK and other terrorist groups which often use northern Iraq to plan cross-border attacks.

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

* Contributions and writing by Sena Guler.