Wanted PKK terrorist among 4 neutralized in Turkey

ANKARA

At least four PKK terrorists, including a wanted member of the terror group, were “neutralized” in southern Turkey, the Interior Ministry said Thursday.

As part of Operation Yildirim-5, provincial gendarmerie forces carried out an operation in southern Hatay province, a ministry statement said.

Huseyin Acar, one of the terrorists neutralized in the operation, was a senior member of the PKK terror group and was in the blue category of the Interior Ministry’s wanted list.

Turkey’s wanted list is divided into five color-coded categories, with red as the most wanted, followed by blue, green, orange, and gray.

Turkish authorities use the word “neutralized” to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.

This summer, Turkey launched a series of security operations to neutralize terrorists believed to be hiding in the country's east and southeast.

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 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants. The YPG is the PKK’s Syrian offshoot.

*Writing by Erdogan Cagatay Zontur