UPDATE - Turkey 'neutralizes' 6 YPG/PKK terrorists in cross-border operations

UPDATES WITH NUMBER OF TERRORISTS NEUTRALIZED; ADDS DETAILS; REVISES, HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE, MINOR EDITS

By Anadolu Agency Staff

ANKARA (AA) – Turkish security forces “neutralized” at least six YPG/PKK terrorists in cross-border operations, said Turkey's National Defense Ministry.

Two of the terrorists, including one senior operative, were targeted in the Gara region with a joint operation by the Turkish Armed Forces and National Intelligence Organization within the vicinity of the Operation Pence-Kaplan (Claw-Lighting), the ministry said.

The so-called external affairs director of the terror group, Mehmet Emin Ekinci, is among the terrorists neutralized.

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

PKK terrorists often hide out in northern Iraq, across Turkey’s southern border, to plan terrorist attacks in Turkey.

The Pence (Claw) operations are a series of offensives Turkey has carried out since 2019 against terrorist organizations in northern Iraq, particularly the PKK.

Moreover, at least four YPG/PKK terrorists were also neutralized by Turkish commandos in northern Syria, the Defense Ministry said on Twitter.

The terrorists were neutralized after they opened harassment fire at the Operation Euphrates Shield zone.

Since 2016, Ankara has launched a trio of successful anti-terror operations across its border in northern Syria to prevent the formation of a terror corridor and enable the peaceful settlement of residents: Euphrates Shield (2016), Olive Branch (2018), and Peace Spring (2019).

Meanwhile, security forces arrested two PKK terror suspects in the eastern Adiyaman province. One more suspect was arrested in the northwestern Edirne province while trying to flee to Greece.

Also, a KCK/PKK terrorist surrendered to security forces through persuasion efforts, the Interior Ministry said in a statement on Monday.

The terrorist joined the terror group in 2008, and has recently been active in Iraq, the statement added.

The number of terrorists who have laid down their arms through persuasion efforts this year now stands at 144.

In its more than 35-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 at least 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants. The YPG is the PKK’s Syrian offshoot.

*Writing by Burak Bir, Ahmet Gencturk and Dilan Pamuk in Ankara