By Sertac Bulur
ANKARA (AA) – At least 47 PKK terrorists were “neutralized ” as part of anti-terror operations across Turkey over the past week, the country’s Interior Ministry said on Monday.
Turkish authorities often use the word “neutralized ” in their statements to imply that the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.
In a statement, the ministry said the Turkish Armed Forces carried out 2,218 ground and air operations on Aug. 6-13.
The ministry said 35 of the terrorists were killed, three captured, and nine others surrendered to authorities.
During the operations, 128 people were arrested for allegedly aiding and abetting the PKK terrorist group and 39 others for their suspected links to the Daesh terrorist organization.
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 death of some 40,000 people, including women and children.
Also, another 312 people were arrested over the past week for suspected links to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind the July 2016 defeated coup, which martyred 251 people and injured nearly 2,200.
Four more people were arrested for their links to leftist terrorist groups, according to the statement.
Security forces also destroyed three terrorist shelters, including several caves, and seven improvised explosives during operations in the eastern and southeastern provinces of Tunceli, Hakkari, and Bitlis, the statement said.
In addition, security forces seized 31 hand grenades, 39 assorted weapons, and 1,329 rounds of ammunition.
During the operations, security forces also arrested 483 suspects for crimes linked to terrorism, and 124 others for human trafficking, while 3,489 people were held for crimes linked to drugs and smuggling.
Additionally, 2,725 anti-drug and contraband operations arrested 477 suspects, the statement read.
The raids also led to the seizure of 1,899 kilograms (4,186 lb.) of heroin, some 7,961 pills or other forms of illegal drugs, and over 23 tons of smuggled oil.
