Turkey 'neutralizes' 32 militants over past week

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

Turkish security forces have "neutralized" 32 militants on its soil and abroad over the past week, the country’s Defense Ministry said in a statement on Dec. 7.

Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralize" in their statements to imply that the militants in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.

It said two Turkish soldiers were also wounded in counterterrorism operations from Nov. 30- Dec. 6.

The statement said operations against the PKK/KCK group in Turkey's southeastern Diyarbakır, Tunceli, Şanlıurfa and Şırnak continued.

A total of 12 infantry rifles, an anti-tank weapon and 2,727 ammunition were seized in the operations.

In operations at border areas, 264 kilograms of narcotics and 900 liters of smuggled fuel were also seized during the same period.

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