Wanted PKK terrorist among 3 neutralized in SE Turkey

ANKARA

Three PKK terrorists, including a wanted member of the terror group, were neutralized in Turkey’s southeast, the Interior Ministry said Saturday.

As part of Operation Yildirim-13, provincial gendarmerie forces carried out an operation in the Mt. Judi region of Sirnak province, the ministry said in a statement.

One of the three neutralized terrorists was Mehmet Buri Husidur, a senior member of the PKK terror group in the orange 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.

Operation Yildirim-13 Bestler-Dereler was launched in four of Turkey’s eastern provinces -- Sirnak, Siirt, Van, and Hakkari -- earlier this week.

As many as 2,500 security personnel are part of the operation that aims to thwart potential attacks this winter, completely eliminate separatist terror groups, and neutralize all terrorists hiding out in the region, according to an Interior Ministry statement on Thursday.

At least 124 terrorists have been neutralized, 53 collaborators captured, 190 caves, hideouts, and storages destroyed, and a large quantity of arms, ammunition, and other supplies seized in Yildirim operations to date, the statement said.

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 Dilan Pamuk in Ankara