Turkish forces have neutralized 2,529 terrorists in operations within the country and outside its borders this year, the National Defense Ministry said on Tuesday, Defense Ministry of Turkey reports.
A total of 169 terrorists have been neutralized in 61 large- and medium-scale operations this month, ministry spokeswoman Maj. Pinar Kara told a news briefing in the capital Ankara.
Turkish authorities often use the word “neutralized” in statements to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.
The PKK terror group often uses bases in northern Iraq just across Turkey's southern border to hide and plot terror attacks in Turkey.
Turkey launched operations Pence-Simsek and Pence-Yildirim on April 23 in northern Iraq's Metina and Avasin-Basyan regions.
In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and EU – has been responsible for the deaths of at least 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.
Since Jan. 1, Turkish forces have also prevented over 92,500 people trying to illegally crossing the country’s borders, Kara said.
She added that 372 kilograms (820 pounds) of illicit drugs and 186 firearms were seized in anti-smuggling operations in the country.
Separately, Turkey dismissed over 24,253 military personnel since the 2016 defeated coup as part of its fight against the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), while 1,201 others are facing trial, the official said.
FETO and its US-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 251 people dead and 2,734 injured.
Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.