Turkish forces 'neutralize' 15 terrorists

By Orhan Onur Gemici

ANKARA

Over the last week, Turkey’s security forces “neutralized” 15 terrorists, the country’s Interior Ministry revealed in figures released on Monday.

Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply that the terrorists in question were either killed or captured.

Gendarme Special Forces, Gendarme Commando Units and Police Special Forces jointly conducted almost 270 ground and air operations throughout Turkey, the ministry said.

In the operations, 11 terrorists were killed. Four more were apprehended, two of them injured.

During the operations, 34 shelters used by terrorists were discovered and 10 handmade explosives defused.

Around 2,300 kilograms of materials used in making explosives, mines and heavy weapons were seized.

According to the ministry, 355 people were arrested on anti-terror charges.

Twenty-one of 56 Daesh suspects recently arrested by Turkish security forces were remanded in custody.

Financing

Turkish security forces also struck a major blow against terror financiers.

In drug operations across Turkey, police seized 48 kilograms of heroin, 805 kilograms of hemp, one kilogram of cocaine plus a large amount of opiate drugs.

The value of the drugs seized was over 6.6 million Turkish liras ($1.8 million).

Nearly two million packets of smuggled cigarettes and over 45,000 liters of fuel were also seized.

Almost 750 people were arrested in connection with the various seizures.

Over 1,100 people, including security personnel and civilians, have lost their lives in PKK attacks since the terrorist organization resumed its decades-old campaign in July 2015.

Since 20 July 2015, PKK attacks have left 793 security personnel martyred, 314 civilians dead. Over 4,000 security personnel and over 2,000 civilians have been injured.