UPDATE- 'Turkey neutralized 489 terrorists in last 3 months'

UPDATES WITH MORE DETAILS, CHANGES DECK, ADDS FETO SUB-HEADLINE

By Ahmet Sertan Usul

ANKARA (AA) - A total of 489 terrorists, including 24 senior operatives, were “neutralized” over the last three months by Turkish security forces in both Turkey and northern Iraq, the nation’s Defense Ministry said on Thursday.

Among these so-called senior terrorists are three from the top two categories of the Turkish Interior Ministry's wanted list, said Colonel Tamer Zincir in a statement for the ministry.

Zincir underlined that airstrikes and ground operations targeting the regions of Zap, Avasin, Basyan, Sinat, Haftanin, Gara, Metina and Qandil in northern Iraq since the beginning of the Operation Claw on May 27 neutralized 204 PKK terrorists attempting to take shelter in the area.

Turkish authorities often use "neutralized" in statements to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.

Some 71 terrorists were neutralized in the Hakurk region alone.

"The 177 out of 204 terrorists that were neutralized by airstrikes demonstrate the effectiveness of air operations," he added.

PKK terrorists -- who have killed some 40,000 innocents over the past 30 years -- often hide out in northern Iraq, venturing across the border to attempt terrorist attacks.

- Syrians returning home

Zincir added that Turkey, under its Operation Euphrates Shield, continued clearing mines and improvised explosives in regions where Syrian refugees are to be resettled.

"So far, 337,729 Syrians have voluntarily returned to their homes," he said.

- Over 17,000 military personnel expelled amid FETO operations

At a press briefing, Zincir added that 17,505 military personnel have been expelled since the 2016 defeated coup over their suspected links to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind the bloody coup.

Legal processes continue for 6,425 others, he added.

FETO and Fetullah Gulen, its U.S.-based leader, orchestrated the defeated coup attempt of July 15, 2016, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.

About the ongoing delivery of equipment for the Russian S-400 defense systems, Zincir said the first batch was set to arrive at Murted Air Base in the capital Ankara today.

The second batch is also expected to be delivered to Ankara, Zincir added.

The delivery of S-400 components began on July 12 and is set to continue through April 2020.

Turkey and the U.S. have been at odds over the S-400 purchase, with Washington claiming incompatibility with NATO systems, and threatening sanctions, while Ankara denies this, but promises any sanctions will be met in kind.