Turkey neutralizes senior YPG/PKK terrorist in N.Iraq

By Mehmet Tosun

ANKARA (AA) - A senior YPG/PKK terrorist was neutralized on Nov. 19 in northern Iraq in an operation by Turkey’s National Intelligence Service (MIT), Turkish security sources said Thursday.

Turkish authorities often use the term "neutralized" to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.

The terrorist, identified as Beraat Afsin -- codenamed Medya Agit -- was in the top, red category of the Turkish Interior Ministry's wanted list, as well as being a senior female member of the terrorist group in Sinjar, Iraq, added the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

After joining YPG/PKK activities in rural areas in 1997, Afsin took part in armed attacks in the 2000s in Turkey.

In 2010, Afsin took part in terrorist activities in northern Iraq's Qandil region -- where the terrorist YPG/PKK has its headquarters -- and also was a senior terrorist in YJA-Star, a YPG/PKK women’s branch, and the YJS, a similar group.

PKK terrorists often use northern Iraq as a base to plan cross-border terrorist attacks on Turkey.

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 women, children, and infants. The YPG is the PKK’s Syrian offshoot.

* Writing by Jeyhun Aliyev