Ankara, Dec 25 (UNI) At least 56 terrorists have been “neutralised” in Turkey’s cross-border air and ground operations since Friday, said the Turkish Defense Ministry on Monday.
The operations were carried out to target members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in northern Iraq and the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) in northern Syria.
At least 26 terrorists were “neutralised” in air strikes, while 30 others were “neutralised” in ground operations, said the ministry.
Six Turkish soldiers were also killed in the confrontations, it added.
Turkish authorities often use the term “neutralise” in their statements to imply that the alleged “terrorists” have surrendered or were killed or captured.
The PKK, listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the United States and the European Union, has rebelled against the Turkish government for more than three decades, while the YPG is regarded by Turkey as the Syrian branch of the outlawed PKK.
The Turkish security forces frequently carry out ground operations, airstrikes and artillery bombardments against the PKK’s hideouts in northern Iraq, especially the Qandil Mountains, the main base of the group, and have launched multiple operations since 2016 in northern Syria in order to create a YPG-free zone along the border with the neighboring country.
