Published January 18,2024
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Türkiye “neutralized” as many as 114 terrorists final week, together with these hiding out throughout the border in Iraq and northern Syria, the National Defense Ministry mentioned on Thursday.
A complete of two,396 terrorists have been neutralized in Iraq and northern Syria since Jan. 1, 2023, a ministry official instructed reporters within the capital Ankara.
Turkish authorities use the time period “neutralize” to suggest that the terrorists in query surrendered or had been killed or captured.
In its greater than 35-year terror marketing campaign in opposition to Türkiye, the PKK-listed as a terrorist group by Türkiye, the U.S., and EU-has been liable for the deaths of over 40,000 individuals, together with girls, kids, and infants. The YPG is its Syrian department.
PKK/YPG terrorists typically cover out throughout Türkiye’s border in northern Iraq and Syria, the place they plot assaults on Turkish forces or the native populations.
Since Jan. 1, 2023, the terrorist group carried out 560 assaults falling beneath Türkiye’s counter-terrorism operations in Syria, and 1,605 terrorists have been “neutralized,” mentioned the official.
On unlawful crossings into Türkiye, the official mentioned because of efficient safety measures, 307 individuals making an attempt to illegally cross Türkiye’s borders have been rounded up since Jan. 1, 2024.
A complete of 8,723 individuals had been prevented from crossing the borders this yr.
Türkiye has been a key transit level for irregular migrants who need to cross into Europe to start out new lives, particularly these fleeing warfare and persecution.
The nation, which already hosts 4 million refugees, greater than another nation on the earth, is taking new measures at its borders to forestall a recent inflow of migrants.
ANTI-TERRORISM CLAW OPERATIONS IN NORTHERN IRAQ
In response to a query concerning the present scenario within the ongoing Claw anti-terrorism operations in northern Iraq carried out by Türkiye, sources from the ministry mentioned these operations have enabled Ankara to realize “significant gains” in stopping the terrorist group’s motion in northern Iraq and limiting actions aimed toward Türkiye.
Thanks to the “base areas strategy,” a safe line has been established alongside the Türkiye-Iraq border strip with a mean depth of 15 to 30 km, they added.
A big variety of PKK terrorists, together with high-ranking leaders of the phobia group, have been “neutralized,” the sources famous.
About whether or not a brand new floor operation can be carried out following Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s latest statements, the ministry sources mentioned: “As expressed by our esteemed President, conducting operations for the security of our country, our people, and our borders is Türkiye’s most natural right in terms of international law and legitimate defense.”
“There should be no doubt that the Turkish Armed Forces will continue to do whatever is necessary at the needed place and time, just as they have done up until now,” they added.
Source: www.anews.com.tr