Turkey neutralizes 45 terrorists over past week
At least 45 terrorists including two so-called senior figures have been neutralized in counter-terrorism operations across Turkey over the past week, the country’s Interior Ministry said Monday.
Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply that the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.
The ministry said in a statement that a total of 2,143 anti-terror operations were conducted between Oct. 29 and Nov. 5.
A total of 25 terrorists were killed, 10 were captured, while another 10 terrorists surrendered to Turkish security forces, the statement said.
Selim Demiroglu codenamed Firat Celi, who was on the orange category of the Interior Ministry's wanted list and Ilyas Karakoc codenamed Baran, who was being sought on the gray category – were among the neutralized terrorists.
The wanted list is divided into five color-coded categories, with red as the most wanted, followed by blue, green, orange and gray.
Security forces also arrested 740 people for aiding and abetting terror organizations, 3,698 people for crimes linked to drugs and smuggling and 139 others for human trafficking crimes.
In nine provinces, 38 shelters of the terrorist organization and 15 improvised explosives and mines were destroyed, while security forces seized 42 hand grenades, 895 kilograms of explosive materials, 29 guns including long-barreled weapons and 746 rounds of ammunition.
In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including women and children.
As part of anti-narcotics operations, security forces also seized over 6 tons of drugs across the country.
Meanwhile, a total of 3,970 irregular migrants were caught during the operations.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Saturday called on PYD/YPG terrorists to leave the northern Syrian city of Manbij “as soon as possible.”"Our goal is the exit of terror groups PYD/YPG from Manbij as soon as possible," Erdoğan said at a joint news conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Petro Poroshenko in Istanbul.The joint press conference comes after the 7th meeting of Ukraine-Turkey High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council. Erdogan said he will also meet his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump on sidelines of international meeting due to be held in Paris on Nov. 10-11.He recalled a Manbij roadmap previously set between Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and his U.S. counterpart Mike Pompeo."However, this road map was not complied," said Erdogan, adding that "now it is time to implement it" and "the process is ongoing".Erdoğan: Turkey works ‘with might and main’ for youthOn Friday, Turkish National Defense Ministry shared a footage of the first round of the Turkey-U.S. joint patrols in Manbij that was conducted as part of the deal between the two countries.The Manbij deal between Turkey and the U.S. focuses on the withdrawal of YPG/PKK terrorists from the city to stabilize the region, which is in the northeast of Syria's Aleppo province.In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the death of some 40,000 people, including those of women and children. The YPG is its Syrian branch.Upon a question, Erdogan said during their recent phone conversation with Trump, they also discussed the issue of Turkey's state-run lender Halkbank. Erdogan said the U.S. president told him that he would immediately instruct his ministers about it.Ankara shares footage on joint Turkey-US patrols in ManbijSyrians want Turkey to free Tal Abyad from terroristsTurkey-Ukraine tiesRegarding Turkish-Ukrainian relations, Erdoğan pointed out that the number of tourists coming from Ukraine to Turkey has surpassed one million in 2018."We will continue to strengthen our relations with Ukraine," Erdoğan said.He said Turkey wishes early resolution of conflict in eastern Ukraine through “diplomatic and peaceful means.”Turkey has never recognized illegal annexation of Crimea and it will never do in the future, Turkish president added.In March 2014, Russia annexed Crimea after a controversial referendum, which drew the ire of the international community as Russian soldiers occupied the region during the voting process.Erdoğan said Ukraine has supported Turkey after the failed coup attempt in 2016."I believe that our cooperation will continue in the following period in order to totally abolish FETO [Fetullah Terrorist Organization] presence in Ukraine," he said.Regarding political prisoners in Russia, Erdogan said that he was previously notified about two Crimeans in Russian prisons; he said he conveyed the issue to Russian President Vladimir Putin and the two were released."Now a larger list was given and again we immediately conveyed it to the Russian side," Erdogan added.For his part, Poroshenko said Saturday's Istanbul meeting was very "fruitful".He also said the leaders of the two countries have given necessary instructions for signing Free Trade Agreement “as soon as possible.”Earlier on Saturday, Poroshenko also visited Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Istanbul and met with Patriarch Bartholomew.Poroshenko and Bartholomew signed a cooperation agreement regarding the ongoing process for establishing an independent Ukrainian church.On October 11, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church was agreed to be independent of the Russian Orthodox Church during a meeting held at the Patriarchate in Istanbul.
Erdoğan calls on terrorists to leave Syria's Manbij
Turkey’s determination to not allow a fait accompli in the east of the Euphrates has been proved yet again through concrete steps taken on the field. While strikes targeting PKK/YPG positions in the region are burying the terrorists in the trenches they dug, experts believe that Turkey may soon station howitzer batteries in Syria. This will enable hits to target a greater region and for the Turkish military to tighten its grip around the PKK/YPG terror group.Turkey struck YPG positions in the Zor Magar area to the west of northern Syria’s Ayn al-Arab region on Oct. 28. Howitzers were used during this operation, and initial reports indicated that 10 terrorists were neutralized.The move came two days after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan issued a “final warning” to those who would endanger Turkey’s borders, saying Ankara was determined to focus its attention on terrorists positioned east of the Euphrates.Turkey calls on US to terminate engagement with PYD/YPGTurkey is dampening PKK’s morale, motivationDefense analyst Turan Oğuz evaluated the goals and probable results of the operation in an exclusive interview with Yeni Şafak daily.Oğuz dubbed the move as a way to “measure the PKK’s reaction and U.S. response, and reduce the morale and motivation of the PKK.”Reactions being notedThe type and period of reaction is being analyzed by military experts at a Turkish base, Oğuz said.“All of the strikes have a cause-result relationship. The Turkish army is monitoring and noting all the changes on the field following these hits. We can say that a coordinated effort is being run with Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MİT) in terms of the changes of the field,” Oğuz added.Turkey neutralizes 18 PKK terrorists over three daysHowitzer batteries to soon be transported beyond Turkey’s borderOğuz said that the importance of areas where Turkey has established dominance following the success of its Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch operations will be better understood in the coming days.“In the case of a probable land operation, artillery will also move forward into Syria,” Oğuz said, noting that the howitzer batteries that struck the east of the Euphrates are currently positioned within Turkey’s borders.“In this way, the range can be used more effectively and the damage inflicted on the targets will increase. This constitutes a difficult period for the PKK/YPG, because the terrorists became closely acquainted with the impact of Turkish howitzers during the Euphrates Shield Operation. It appears that the same end awaits the terrorists,” Oğuz said.Turkish, US defense ministers talk over phone
Turkey may position howitzer batteries in Syria, says defense analyst
Turkey on Saturday called on the U.S. to terminate its engagement with the terrorist group PYD/YPG in Syria.In a statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said Deputy Foreign Minister Sedat Onal, who visited Washington on Nov. 1-2., termination of engagement is necessary for both Turkey’s national security and the establishment of sustainable peace and stability in Syria.The statement came after Onal held talks with the U.S.’s Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale and Undersecretary of Defense for Policy John Rood during his visit.Turkey has repeatedly objected to U.S. support for the terrorist PKK/PYD as a "reliable ally" in Syria, which has included supplying arms and equipment.The ministry said in recent days, Turkey has acted in accordance with its rules of engagements to the provocative activities by PYD/YPG on Turkey-Syrian borders. “We have said that we will never tolerate terror activities beyond our borders,” the ministry added.The statement said that the talks focused on improving relations between the two countries and coordination of regional issues as well as functionalizing existing cooperation mechanism.During the meetings, Turkey and the U.S. expressed their “satisfaction” over the launching of joint patrols in accordance with Manbij Roadmap previously agreed by the foreign ministers of two countries, the statement added.The Manbij deal between Turkey and the U.S. focuses on the withdrawal of YPG/PKK terrorists from the city to stabilize the region, which is in the northeast of northern Syria's Aleppo province.In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the death of some 40,000 people, including those of women and children. The YPG is its Syrian branch.The Turkish Foreign Ministry also called on the U.S. officials to take “concrete steps” against Fetullah Terror Organization (FETÖ).The FETÖ and its U.S.-based leader, Fetullah Gulen, orchestrated the defeated coup, which martyred 251 people and injured nearly 2,200 others in July 2016. Gulen has lived in a self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999.
Turkey calls on US to terminate engagement with PYD/YPG