Turkish intelligence ‘neutralizes’ senior PKK terrorist in northern Syria

By Ferdi Turkten

ANKARA (AA) – Turkish intelligence teams “neutralized” a senior PKK terrorist in Qamishli city, northern Syria, security sources said on Thursday.

The National Intelligence Organization neutralized Eymen Coli, the PKK/YPG terrorist responsible in Qamishli, in an intelligence-based operation, said the sources on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to media.

The Syrian Amuda-based terrorist had previously organized actions against Turkish security forces along the border and participated in conflicts against security forces during Operation Peace Spring.

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

The anti-terror operation came after Friday's PKK terror attack that killed 12 Turkish soldiers in northern Iraq. Turkish airstrikes, since then, have destroyed dozens of terror targets in northern Iraq and Syria and neutralized senior terrorists.

PKK terrorists often hide out in northern Iraq to plot cross-border attacks in Türkiye. It also has a Syrian branch, known as the YPG.

Since 2016, Ankara has launched a trio of successful anti-terror operations across its border in northern Syria to prevent the formation of a terror corridor and enable the peaceful settlement of residents: Euphrates Shield (2016), Olive Branch (2018), and Peace Spring (2019).

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 PKK’s Syrian offshoot.