2 wanted PKK terrorists neutralized in southeastern Türkiye

By Esra Agacyetistiren

ANKARA (AA) - Two wanted PKK terrorists were neutralized in southeastern Türkiye, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced on Saturday.

Yerlikaya confirmed on X that the two members of the separatist PKK were neutralized by gendarmerie forces in the Omeryan region of Nusaybin, Mardin.

He said that the “treacherous” terrorists were responsible for the April 28 killing of Gendarmerie Senior Sgt. Mehmet Gunduz in the same location.

Turkish authorities use the term "neutralize" to imply that the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.

In an operation named after Gunduz, two terrorists were neutralized in an armed confrontation involving "brave" commandos and security escort teams, said Yerlikaya.

Yerlikaya identified one terrorist as Nurhak Derik, codenamed Ramazan Temel, and the other as Bilal Sahin, known as Yılmaz.

They were involved in actions that resulted in the killing of two civilians and the injuring of a gendarmerie and another civilian, he said.

He commended the "heroic" gendarmerie who conducted the operation and stressed their unwavering commitment to ongoing operations against terrorism and its collaborators.

Yerlikaya stressed they would persist in their fight with the people's support and prayers until the last terrorist is eliminated.

In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US, and EU – has been responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.