By Sarp Ozer
Türkiye has "neutralized" as many as 1,802 PKK/YPG terrorists since the beginning of this year, including those hiding out across the border in Iraq and northern Syria, the National Defense Ministry said on Thursday.
A total of 87 terrorists were targeted last week, a ministry official told reporters at a background briefing in the capital Ankara.
Turkish authorities use the term "neutralize" to imply that the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.
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 over 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants. The YPG is its Syrian branch.
PKK/YPG terrorists often hide out across Türkiye's border in northern Iraq and Syria, where they plot attacks on Turkish forces or the local populations.
All necessary measures are being taken to maintain security and stability in operation zones, and terrorist attacks are being met with proportional responses, the official added.
Since January, 425 incidents and attacks have been carried out by the terrorist group in areas of Türkiye's counter-terrorism operations, and 1,321 terrorists have been "neutralized" with the immediate response of Turkish soldiers, according to the official.
On illegal crossings into Türkiye, the official said thanks to additional effective measures, 10,974 people who tried to illegally cross Türkiye's borders have been caught since Jan. 1, including 560 terrorists.
About 182,129 people were prevented before they crossed the border.
Türkiye has been a key transit point for irregular migrants who want to cross into Europe to start new lives, especially those fleeing war and persecution.
The country, which already hosts 4 million refugees, more than any other country in the world, is taking new measures at its borders to prevent a fresh influx of migrants.
- Humanitarian aid to Gaza
Asked about Türkiye's humanitarian aid to Gaza, which has endured nearly four weeks of a relentless Israeli bombing campaign, a ministry source said: "The Turkish Armed Forces are ready to undertake tasks in both humanitarian aid and evacuation in line with the directives given."
Stressing the experience of the Turkish Armed Forces in both evacuation and medical support, the source said that the suitability of regional conditions is the most crucial factor in carrying out relief efforts.
- Sale of F-16 jets to Türkiye
About efforts to finalize a sale of F-16 jets from the US to Türkiye, the source said technical meetings by the delegations have been completed, and they are waiting for the completion of procedures in the US.
"We want this process to conclude positively and expeditiously as soon as possible. We once again stress that this matter should not be subject to any conditions.”
Türkiye has been seeking to purchase the latest generation of F-16 jets from the US as well as upgrade kits for older F-16s, but some opposition in the US Congress has slowed the process.
Some have also tried to tie the sales to other foreign policy issues, but Türkiye has rejected this.