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A total of 4,519 terrorists have been “neutralized” since the start of the Turkey-led Operation Olive Branch in Syria's Afrin region, according to the Turkish army on Friday.
Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.
In a weekly statement, the Turkish General Staff said 54 Turkish soldiers have also been martyred while 236 others were injured during the operation in Afrin.
Also, 247 mines and 1,301 improvised explosives were destroyed during the operation.
Turkey and the U.S. agree that other Syrian regions will be rid of PKK/YPG terrorists after the northern city of Manbij is cleared, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoglu said on Friday.Speaking at Anadolu Agency’s Editors' Desk, Cavusoglu said: “There is a clear statement on our roadmap [with U.S.] that we will move on to other areas after Manbij [has been cleared of PKK/YPG terrorists].“These were discussed and evaluated in our working group meetings and we reached a consensus on this subject.”The roadmap was announced last month after a meeting in Washington between Cavusoglu and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. The deal focuses on the withdrawal of the PKK-affiliated YPG terror group from Manbij and bringing stability to the region.About the Turkish army patrols in Manbij, Cavusoglu said the withdrawal of YPG/PKK from patrol areas in Manbij did not mean it had completely withdrawn from the area. On Wednesday, the Turkish military completed its ninth round of patrols in Manbij as part of a deal with the U.S. to rid the area of the YPG/PKK terror group.On its Twitter account, the Turkish General Staff said both countries' forces conducted separate coordinated patrols in the area between Manbij and the area previously cleared during Turkey’s Operation Euphrates Shield. The first patrols by Turkish and U.S. troops in the region began on June 18.In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK has taken some 40,000 lives, including those of women and children. The YPG/PKK is its Syrian branch.Referring to the recent counter-terrorism operations in northern Iraq, Cavusoglu said: “Our cooperation will further strengthen after a government is established in Iraq and we will do what is necessary for PKK terror group to be cleared from Iraqi territories.”Turkish army conducts 10th round of patrols in ManbijOnce Manbij is cleared of PKK/YPG, eastern Euphrates to follow: Turkish FMFight against FETOEarly June, Turkish Armed Forces launched fresh counter-terrorism operations in northern Iraq's Qandil Mountain region, a known PKK stronghold.About the fight against Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), Cavusoglu said: “We will see how seriously they [U.S.] will take it after everything is put on the table. The U.S. should not lose its ally like Turkey.”Urging the U.S. to give up its “wrong policies” against Ankara, he urged the Washington administration to fulfill Turkey’s demands against FETO. According to the Turkish government, FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 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.About how bilateral ties might get affected if the U.S. imposes sanctions on Turkey due to its S-400 purchase, the foreign minister said: "The U.S. administration will make the decision. The administration does not want to harm relations with Turkey."Especially, [Donald] Trump himself does not want to harm relations with Turkey. He, in real terms, respects our Mr. President.”Under an accelerated timetable for the S-400 deal, Russia's first deliveries of the advanced anti-aircraft missile system to Turkey are due in late 2019 or early 2020.About Turkish-Israeli relations, Cavusoglu said Israel was maintaining an aggressive attitude towards Turkey.Relations with Israel“Israeli should cease its wrong policies and merciless cruelty, which is incompatible with humanity, in order to normalize our relations with Israel in real terms,” he said.On Turkish national Ebru Ozkan’s arrest in Tel Aviv, Cavusoglu said: “They [Israel] have been taking steps to deter our citizens from visiting Jerusalem. We will respond to this.” An Israeli military court on Tuesday extended the detention of Ozkan, who had been under arrest since June 11 for alleged links with terrorist groups, the lawyer said.On U.S. withdrawal from Iran nuclear deal, Cavusoglu said: “We don’t find the U.S. decisions on sanctions on Iran right.”In May, Trump withdrew the U.S. from the nuclear deal, which was signed in 2015 between Iran and the P5 1 group of nations (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany). The deal placed restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for billions of dollars in sanctions relief.He said Iran should not be forced into a corner since it would be "dangerous and risky”.Cavusoglu added the U.S. decision against Iran had been taken upon Israeli demand and had no justification.Also, on Austria’s taking over of the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union from Bulgaria on July 1, the foreign minister said: “We also do not expect Austria to take a radical decision.”Austria assumed the presidency for the third time after its terms in 1998 and 2006.
Turkey, US agree on clearing Syrian regions of PKK
Turkey on Jan. 20 launched Operation Olive Branch to remove YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin. On March 18, Turkish troops and Free Syrian Army liberated the Afrin district center.
According to the Turkish General Staff, the operation aims to establish security and stability along Turkey’s borders and the region as well as to protect Syrians from the oppression and cruelty of terrorists.
Separately, the Turkish army said it had neutralized 49 terrorists during anti-terror operations in Turkey and northern Iraq over the last week.
The operations were conducted in the southeastern Kahramanmaras, Sirnak, Hakkari, Diyarbakir, Mardin and eastern Agri provinces, as well as in northern Iraq between June 29 and July 5, it added.
At least 22 PKK terrorists were "neutralized" during counterterrorism operations in southeastern Turkey, the Interior Ministry and the army said on Friday.In a statement, the Interior Ministry said 15 PKK terrorists were neutralized across three provinces in anti-terror operations in the last 24 hours.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 counterterrorism operations were conducted in the provinces of Mardin, Hakkari and Şırnak.Turkey arrests wanted PKK terrorist deported by Norway“Two terrorists in Mardin, five terrorists in Hakkari (Kırıkdağ) and eight terrorists in Şırnak – a total of 15 terrorists – have been neutralized in the last 24 hours within the scope of counterterrorism operations. The operation in Mardin is ongoing,” the statement released by the Interior Ministry said.Separately, in a message posted on its official Twitter account, the Turkish General Staff said seven PKK terrorists had been neutralized in a rural area of the Hakkari province.Fighter jets conducted airstrikes on July 5-6 in a rural area of Hakkari.The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and the EU. In its terror campaign against Turkey, which has lasted for more than three decades, over 40,000 people have been killed, including many women and children.German intelligence calls PKK, PYD 'sister' groups
Security forces neutralize 22 PKK terrorists in SE Turkey
During the anti-terror operations, 15 weapons including infantry rifles and flame throwers were seized; eight weapon emplacements and shelters were also destroyed.
The statement also said four soldiers were injured within this period.
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.
Police arrested PKK terror group member Gülizar Taşdemir, 42, at Istanbul's Atatürk Airport on Thursday.Taşdemir’s arrest came following her deportation from Norway when her asylum request was rejected. During her body search, police seized two cellphones, two SIM cards, three flash memory cards as well as digital material, documents related to the terror group and photographs shot alongside Öcalan.Recruited by the PKK in 1991, Taşdemir received armed training at the Mahmur camp, Iraq, and was with Öcalan, the jailed head of the PKK terrorist organization, for many years.PKK terrorists kill father and mentally disabled son in SE TurkeyIn 2013, the Public Prosecutor's Office in eastern Erzurum had issued an arrest warrant for Taşdemir for membership in an armed terror group.The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey as well as the U.S. and the EU. In its terror campaign against Turkey, which has lasted for more than three decades, over 40,000 people have been killed, including women and children.Two PKK terrorists nabbed trying to enter Syria’s Afrin
Turkey arrests wanted PKK terrorist deported by Norway
The PYD/YPG are Syrian branches of the terrorist PKK and the focus of Turkey's successful counter-terrorist Operation Olive Branch in Afrin, Syria, near the border with Turkey.
The statement also said Turkish and the U.S. army had conducted 10 separate coordinated patrols in the area between the Operation Euphrates Shield region and Manbij since June 18, when the first patrols by Turkish and U.S. troops in the region began.
A deal between Turkey and the U.S. has focused on the withdrawal of the PKK-affiliated YPG terror group from Manbij in order to stabilize the region.
A new report of Germany’s domestic intelligence agency has described the terrorist PKK group and its Syrian affiliates -- PYD and YPG -- as “sister organisations”.The Office for the Protection of the Constitution (LfV) in northern state of Schleswig-Holstein gave new details about the activities of PYD/PKK/YPG in Germany, in its annual report which was published on the government’s website.The PKK and its affiliates are still active across the country with nearly 14,500 followers among the Kurdish immigrant community, and are using the German soil for propaganda, fund-raising and logistics support, the report said.Despite PYD’s widespread propaganda in the Western media, portraying itself as an independent Syrian Kurdish group, the German domestic intelligence agency highlighted that the group was closely attached with the PKK in northern Germany.Earlier this year, Germany’s federal domestic intelligence agency (BfV) warned about growing PKK activity and violence in the country, and also described the PYD as PKK's “sister organization”.The terrorist PKK group has been banned in Germany since 1993, but the German government has not yet taken any legal action to outlaw the PYD.Turkey has long criticized German authorities for not taking serious measures against the terrorist group and tolerating their propaganda activities.The PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and the EU, waged a terror campaign against Turkey for more than 30 years, and has been responsible for the death of nearly 40,000 people.TAF, FSA destroy joint PKK- Daesh terror cells in SyriaTurkish army conducts 9th round of patrols in Manbij
German intelligence calls PKK, PYD 'sister' groups