Turkey: Over 10,000 PKK terrorists ‘neutralized’

By Omer Faruk Simsek

KOCAELI, Turkey (AA) – Turkey’s Defense Minister Fikri Isik Monday said 10,091 members of PKK terrorist organization have been “neutralized” since July 23, 2016, a week after a deadly coup attempt in the country.

“7,071 of those were killed,'' Isik told a crowd during a meeting with family members of martyrs. He added 1,983 were captured and 1,037 others surrendered.

“We put up a big fight,” Isik said.

More than 1,200 people, including security force personnel and civilians, have lost their lives since the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and EU -- resumed its decades-old armed campaign in July 2015.

Last year on July 20, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced a nationwide three-month state of emergency after the failed coup. It was extended 2 times with last time on Jan. 4 this year for three more months.

Turkey's government says the defeated coup, which left 249 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured, was organized by followers of Fetullah Gulen, and his FETO network.