Turkey 'neutralizes' 13 senior terrorists since January

By Muhammed Boztepe</p> <p>ANKARA – Turkey has “neutralized” some 13 top members of different terror groups since the beginning of 2019, the country’s interior minister said on Tuesday. </p> <p>Turkish authorities often use the word &quot;neutralized&quot; in their statements to imply that the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.</p> <p>Speaking in the capital Ankara, Suleyman Soylu said: “13 top terrorists from all terror groups have been neutralized since the beginning of this year.” </p> <p>Earlier on Tuesday, the Defense Ministry said Turkish Armed Forces &quot;neutralized&quot; a key PKK terrorist leader in an air offensive in northern Iraq.</p> <p>The ministry identified the terrorist as Mehmet Soysuren, codenamed Savas Porsipi, who was on the red — the top priority — category of Interior Ministry’s wanted terrorists list.</p> <p>Soylu also said some 6,320 people have been remanded in anti-drug operations across the country since the beginning of new year. </p> <p>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 many women and children.</p> <p>* Writing by Nilay Kar Onum