Utku Simsek and Orhan Onur Gemici
December 21, 2023•Update: December 22, 2023
ANKARA
Türkiye has "neutralized" as many as 2,120 PKK/YPG terrorists since the beginning of this year, including those hiding out across the border in the northern areas of Iraq and Syria, the National Defense Ministry said on Thursday.
A total of 45 terrorists were targeted last week, a ministry official told reporters at a background briefing in the capital Ankara.
Turkish authorities use the term "neutralize" to imply that the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.
In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US, and EU – has been responsible for the deaths of over 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants. The YPG is its Syrian branch.
PKK/YPG terrorists often hide out across Türkiye's border in northern Iraq and Syria, where they plot attacks on Turkish forces or the local populations.
Since January, the terrorist group has been behind 488 incidents and attacks in areas of Türkiye's counter-terrorism operations, and 1,475 terrorists have been "neutralized" through an immediate response by Turkish soldiers, said the official.
On illegal crossings into Türkiye, the official said thanks to effective security measures,13,502 people who tried to illegally cross Türkiye's borders have been caught since Jan. 1, including 598 terrorists.
Nearly 204,000 people were prevented before they were able to cross the border.
Türkiye has been a key transit point for irregular migrants who want to cross into Europe to start new lives, especially those fleeing war and persecution.
The country, which already hosts 4 million refugees, more than any other country in the world, is taking new measures at its borders to prevent a fresh influx of migrants.
US statement on seeking assistance from allies to prevent attacks on Israeli ships in Red Sea
In response to a question about Türkiye's stance on the new international mission to be led by the US to counter attacks on Israeli ships in the Red Sea, the ministry sources said: "We will act in line with our national rights and interests, evaluating the situation accordingly."
Fight against terrorism with Iraq
The sources recalled that Turkish airstrikes on Wednesday destroyed PKK terror targets in northern Iraq after Iraqi Defense Minister Thabet al-Abbasi visited Ankara on Tuesday.
On a question about the possibility of establishing a new mechanism with Iraq to fight terrorism in the coming period, the ministry sources said: "We respect the territorial integrity of Iraq. Our sole aim is to target the terrorist organizations. We will continue to combat terrorism in cooperation with Iraq."
They added: "Our relations in the fight against terrorism with Iraq have been further developing recently. They are also disturbed by the presence of the PKK terrorist organization in Iraqi territories.
"We expect positive developments in the fight against terrorism in the coming period."
Announcement of UK providing 2 mine-hunting ships to Ukraine
Regarding the reports of the UK providing two mine-hunting ships to Ukraine, the ministry sources said: "After the creation of the Maritime Capability Coalition led by the UK and Norway on Dec. 11, the UK announced that it would provide Ukraine with two mine-hunting ships.
"However, this issue is part of the UK's maritime support package initiated before Russia invaded Ukraine."
A timeline for the dispatch of the mine-hunting ships has not been disclosed yet, the sources said.
The ministry sources said Türkiye fulfills its responsibilities for the continuation of peace and stability in the Black Sea, adding that the Montreux Convention is the most important tool contributing to this.
"Türkiye, at the beginning of the war, prevented the escalation of the ongoing conflict into the sea by closing the straits to the ships of the warring parties based on the Montreux Convention.
"It is our duty to rigorously implement the Montreux Convention until the end of the war," the sources added.
