Wanted terrorist 'neutralized' in southeastern Turkey

ANKARA

A wanted terrorist was "neutralized" in a domestic anti-terror operation in southeastern Turkey, the Interior Ministry said on Monday.

Suleyman Ozturk, code-named Cilo, was neutralized in an air-backed operation by the provincial gendarmerie forces in the rural areas of Mardin province's Nusaybin district as part of the Operation Eren-5, the ministry said in a statement.

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

Operation Eren, named after Eren Bulbul, a 15-year-old martyred by the terrorist PKK on Aug. 11, 2017, commenced in January and aims at eliminating terrorism from the country completely.

A member of a separatist organization, Ozturk was on the grey category of the Interior Ministry’s wanted list, the statement added.

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

The affiliation of the terrorist was not given, but the PKK terror group is active in the area.

In its more than 35-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 at least 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.