Turkish forces neutralize 50 terrorists in January

By Sertac Bulur

ANKARA (AA) - Some 50 terrorists have been neutralized in first month of the new year during internal security operations across Turkey, the nation’s Interior Ministry said on Monday.

According to a statement from the ministry, the neutralized terrorists include four dead, 23 captured alive or wounded and 23 surrendered in nearly 9,500 operations conducted in January.

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

Forty-four of the terrorists were PKK members, and six of them were Daesh members, the statement said.

A total of 21,423 people have been arrested over crimes of aiding and abetting terror groups, links to the terrorists, drug and trafficking, the statement added.

During the operations, Turkish forces also destroyed 108 shelters and caves, 30 improvised explosives and mines.

They also confiscated over a ton of explosive material and over 9,000 various ammunition.

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 and children.