By Sinan Uslu
ANKARA (AA) – As part of the ongoing Turkey-led operations in northern Syria, 228 Daesh targets were destroyed and 18 terrorists were neutralized on Saturday, according to the Turkish army.
The Turkish-led Operation Euphrates Shield, which began in late August, aims to improve security, support coalition forces, and eliminate the terrorist threat along the Turkish border through Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters backed by Turkish artillery and jets. Saturday marks the 144th day of the operation.
The total number of the “neutralized” terrorists in northern Syria since the ongoing Turkey-led Operation Euphrates Shield was launched last Aug., is at least 2,085, according to the latest data of the Turkish military.
1,775 of these neutralized are Daesh militants, the weekly statement of the Turkish general staff said.
Turkish authorities often use the word “neutralized” in their statements to imply the terrorist in question was either killed or captured.
Since Aug., 225 residential areas and 1,870 square kilometers have also been secured in the Azaz-Jarabulus corridor in northern Syria as part of the operations. The Turkish air force command targeted 1,141 with 1,233 bombs and 2,922 improvised explosives and 43 mines were demolished.
In that regard, not only 310 PKK/PYD militants were neutralized during the operations, but also the group’s permanent shelter places as well as their key routes especially in Turkey’s southeastern Hakkari, Sirnak, Diyarbakir, Mardin and Bitlis provinces, became inoperable.
Turkish jets also destroyed their mortars, improvised explosives, infantry riffles, guns, and some other equipment used for building bombs. Meanwhile, 53 shelter places of the group became dysfunctional due to the ongoing operations.
In addition, 5,646 individuals were caught who wanted to cross Turkey’s borders illegally, according to the Turkish authorities.
During clashes within the last week, 2 Turkish security officials were martyred, while 4 others were wounded.
