Five militants ‘neutralized’ in ops in Turkey, N Iraq

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

At least five illegal PKK militants have been “neutralized” in air operations in southeastern Turkey and northern Iraq, the Turkish military said on Sept. 17. 

Turkish authorities often use the word “neutralized” in their statements to imply the militants in question either surrendered or were killed or captured. 

In a statement, the Turkish General Staff said the five militants, who were plotting attacks, were “neutralized” in air operations on Sept. 16-17 in Turkey’s Şırnak province and Hakurk, northern Iraq. 

Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry announced in a statement issued on Sept. 16 that a PKK militant, whose name was in the gray category of the ministry’s wanted list, was “neutralized” in an anti-terror operation in eastern Turkey on Sept. 13. 

Fırat Dağdelen, codenamed Servan Cevlik, was “neutralized” in an operation in the Bingöl province. 

The ministry said another wanted PKK militant Sabri Kartal, who was also on the gray list, was captured in an operation in the district of Yüksekova in the southeastern province of Hakkari. 

Kartal was wanted for being a member of an armed terrorist organization. 

The wanted list is divided into five color-coded categories, with red as the most wanted, followed by blue, green, orange and gray.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.

46 PKK militants ‘neutralized’ last week

At least 46 illegal PKK militants were “neutralized” in operations across Turkey over the past week, the Interior Ministry said on Sept. 17. 

According to the ministry’s statement, 16 militants were killed and 20 were captured on Sept. 10.

Ten militants also surrendered to the Turkish security forces.

Two senior operatives of the group were among those neutralized.

In addition, security forces seized 51 hand grenades, 116 kilograms of explosive chemicals, four improvised explosives, 20 long-barreled weapons and 6,074 rounds of ammunition.

Separately, officials said on Sept. 17 that an air-supported operation neutralized four PKK militants in eastern Turkey.

The Tunceli Governor’s Office said the militants, who were preparing for an attack, were neutralized by the Provincial Gendarmerie Command.

The office added that the operation is ongoing and the public will be updated with any further information.