ANKARA

Turkish security forces prevented a total of 96 terror attacks and arrested 54 terror suspects in the first half of the year.

Intelligence activities and the efforts of law enforcement teams bore fruit with a total of 99 terrorist activities, including 93 by the YPG/PKK, two by leftist groups and one by Daesh/ISIS, having been stopped.

According to figures from security sources obtained by Anadolu Agency, 54 suspects, including 42 from the YPG/PKK, 10 from Daesh and two from left-wing terror groups, were arrested during the operations.

As part of the operations, police seized dozens of explosives across the country.

In 2019, Turkish security forces hindered a total of 328 terror attacks, with 299 from the YPG/PKK, 18 from Daesh and 11 from leftist terror organizations.

Turkey was one of the first countries to recognize Daesh as a terror group in 2013.

The country has since been attacked by Daesh terrorists numerous times, including in 10 suicide bombings, seven bombings and four armed attacks which killed 315 people and injured hundreds.

In response, Turkey launched military and police operations at home and abroad to prevent further terror attacks.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar