By Diyar Guldogan
Türkiye has "neutralized" more than 1,000 PKK/YPG terrorists since Jan. 1, including those hiding out across the border in Iraq and northern Syria, the National Defense Ministry said on Thursday.
"Sixty-seven terrorists have been neutralized in the last week," a National Defense Ministry official told reporters at a briefing in the capital Ankara.
The total number of terrorists “neutralized” so far this year reached 1,062, he added.
Turkish authorities use the term “neutralize” to imply that the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.
In Syria, the official said, all necessary measures are taken to maintain security and stability in the areas of Türkiye's cross-border anti-terror operations, and terrorist attacks are responded to in kind.
Since January, 91 harassment incidents and attacks have been carried out by the YPG/PKK terrorist group in areas of Türkiye's counterterrorism operations, and 777 terrorists have been “neutralized” with the immediate intervention of Turkish soldiers, he added.
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. The YPG is the terrorist PKK’s Syrian branch.
On illegal crossings into Türkiye, the official said thanks to additional effective measures, 4,931 people, including 369 terrorists, who tried to illegally cross Türkiye's borders, have been caught since Jan. 1. Around 138,000 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.
- Türkiye to take command of NATO-led KFOR
About Turkish soldiers who were deployed as part of a NATO force to maintain order amid tensions in Kosovo, the official said the task of the Turkish commando battalion is planned to continue until the beginning of September.
In July, Türkiye deployed troops to Kosovo at the request of NATO’s Allied Joint Force Command amid tensions in the Balkan country.
Tensions rose in Kosovo following the election of ethnic Albanian mayors in four Serb-dominated municipalities in the country's north in April. Serbs had boycotted the elections, and afterwards protested the results and tried to block the mayors from taking office.
"In addition, the Kosovo Force (KFOR) command will be taken over by our country for one year starting from October," the Turkish official said.