By Kemal Karadag
ANKARA (AA) – At least 12 PKK terrorists were “neutralized ” in counter-terrorism operations in Turkey and northern Iraq over the past week, the Turkish military said on Friday.
Turkish authorities often use the word “neutralized ” in their statements to imply the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.
In a statement, the Turkish General Staff said seven weapon pits and shelters used by the terrorists were destroyed in the operations carried out from Oct. 18 to Oct. 26.
A total of 4,585 terrorists have been neutralized since the launch of Turkey's Operation Olive Branch in Syria’s Afrin region, the statement added.
On Jan. 20, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to free Afrin of YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists. On March 18, Turkish troops and the Free Syrian Army liberated the Afrin district center.
Meanwhile, Turkish and U.S. soldiers conducted 66 independent patrolling in the area between Operation Euphrates Shield region and Manbij since June 18 as part of the “Manbij Roadmap” and “Manbij Security Principles,” the army said.
The Manbij deal between Turkey and the U.S. focuses on the withdrawal of YPG/PKK terrorists from the city to stabilize the region, which is in the northeast of Aleppo province in northern Syria.
The joint training of the U.S. and Turkish soldiers continued since Oct.9, the statement said, adding the joint patrolling will begin after completion of training.
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 those of women and children. The YPG is its Syrian branch.
