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Turkey "neutralized" a most-wanted PKK/KCK terrorist in an operation in northern Iraq, the Turkish General Staff said on Wednesday.
Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.
Turkish Army said on Twitter that PKK/KCK's senior figure of Sinjar town, Ismail Özden -- codenamed Mam Zeki Sengali -- was neutralized in a joint operation by Turkish Armed Forces and intelligence in Sinjar.
It is reported that Özden, 66, is the first PKK/KCK terrorist in the red-category "neutralized" by Turkey in an operation abroad.
The wanted list is divided into five color-coded categories, with red as the most wanted followed by blue, green, orange and grey.
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.
The operation was named after Bedirhan Mustafa Karakaya, an 11-month baby who was martyred in PKK bomb attack.
Last month, the baby and his mother Nurcan were martyred in a roadside bombing in the Yuksekova district of southeastern province of Hakkari.
Özden was actively operating in Europe from 1992 to 1996.
Arrested in Germany for "being PKK member" and "attacking workplaces of Turkish people" in 1996, Özden was released in 1998.
In 2018, Özden began spearheading PKK/KCK terror activities in Sinjar.
The suspect in Saturday's attack on the Turkish Consulate in Amsterdam turns out to have links with the PKK terrorist organization, according to security sources.Ercan Polater, the suspect who was arrested by Dutch police, has been wanted by Turkey since 2012 under a red notice for terrorist organization membership, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.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.On Sunday, Turkish Consul Tolga Orkun told Anadolu Agency that an individual threw three Molotov cocktails at the Turkish Consulate on Saturday night.“The Molotov cocktail wasn’t broken and didn’t flame up. If it had it would have caused serious damage," Orkun said.There were no casualties from the incident.In 2004, Polater was detained by Dutch officials but was later granted asylum and released.After determining in 2016 that he was in the Netherlands, Turkish officials requested his extradition, but were refused.Following the attack, Turkish officials have again contacted Dutch authorities to request Polater’s extradition.Despite UN and Interpol rules saying a person who has committed crimes of terrorism in their own country cannot enjoy refugee status, Polater still holds that status in the Netherlands, said the sources.
PKK seen behind attack on Turkey’s Dutch Consulate
The YPG/PKK terrorist group has closed two more schools in Syria’s northeastern Al-Hasakah province on grounds that the targeted schools did not have a license.In a statement, the YPG/PKK-linked education authority said Ber and Liva schools did not obtain a license to operate and that they were following a different curriculum.Last week, the terrorist group shut down three Assyrian schools in part of northeastern Syria.One PKK terrorist killed, another held in eastern TurkeyIn recent years, the YPG/PKK has used schools in areas under its control to indoctrinate students with its militarist, ethno-centric ideologies.During the upcoming academic year, the terror group reportedly hopes to expand the use of its curriculum to high school students.This has prompted many parents in the region, who do not want their children to be brainwashed by terrorist propaganda, to send their children to private schools instead.Turkish forces ‘neutralize’ most wanted PKK terroristsThe YPG/PKK, however, has also reportedly threatened a number of private schools with closure.The YPG is its Syrian branch of the PKK -- recognized as a terror group by the U.S., EU, and Turkey.In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK has claimed some 40,000 lives, including many women and children.
YPG/PKK terror group shuts two more schools in NE Syria
At least one PKK terrorist was killed and another was arrested during counterterrorism operations in Turkey’s eastern province of Van, the provincial governor's office said on Wednesday.In a statement, the office said that the operations were launched on Aug. 14-15 by gendarme forces against the terrorists, who were plotting an attack, in Baskale district.Security forces also seized a M-16 infantry rifle, four hand grenades and a large amount 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 some 40,000 people.Turkish forces ‘neutralize’ most wanted PKK terroristsPKK terrorists in Turkey hit low of 790PKK terrorist group falling apart under pressure
One PKK terrorist killed, another held in eastern Turkey
Turkish security forces have “neutralized” two wanted PKK terrorists during a counterterrorism operation in the eastern province of Tunceli, the country’s Interior Ministry said on Wednesday.The word “neutralized” is used to imply that the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.Ömer Duran, codenamed Rezzan Mardin, and Pınar Yıldırım, codenamed Jindar, were the two terrorists included in the Turkish Interior Ministry’s orange category of wanted terrorists, the ministry said in a statement.PKK terrorists in Turkey hit low of 790The wanted list is divided into five color-coded categories, with red as the most wanted followed by blue, green, orange and grey.In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terroristorganization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of some 40,000 people.PKK terrorist group falling apart under pressureArmy neutralizes wanted terrorist in southeast Turkey
Turkish forces ‘neutralize’ most wanted PKK terrorists