"We are at the peak of our determination and success in eliminating terrorism," Suleyman Soylu said at a ceremony in the capital Ankara.

A total of 5,558 people have joined the terrorist organization since 2014, Soylu said.

“Since the beginning of the year [2019], 74 people joined the terrorist organization, while 230 others left; 155 of them were convinced by their families [to leave the group],” he added.

Though the minister did not mention a specific terrorist group, Turkey has long been conducting operations against the PKK terror group in the region.

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