The Turkish Ministry of Defense announced the "neutralization" of 60 members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and its Syrian affiliate, the People's Protection Units (YPG), during operations conducted in northern Iraq and Syria over the past week.

This latest update comes amidst a sustained Turkish military campaign targeting the designated terrorist organizations in the region.

The announcement was delivered by Rear Admiral Zeki Aktürk, Press and Public Relations Advisor to the Ministry of Defense, during a weekly press briefing. Aktürk highlighted the ongoing counter-terrorism efforts, stating that the number of neutralized PKK/YPG members since the beginning of 2024 has reached 458, with a breakdown of 184 in northern Iraq and 274 in northern Syria.

Aktürk specifically mentioned the progress of Operation Claw-Lock, a large-scale Turkish military operation launched in April 2023 targeting PKK hideouts and positions in northern Iraq. He revealed that since the operation's inception, a total of 824 terrorists have been neutralized, 1,896 weapons of various calibers have been seized, and over 2,600 mines and improvised explosive devices have been detected and destroyed. Additionally, Turkish forces have rendered unusable 862 caves and bunkers believed to be used by PKK militants.

The press briefing also addressed border security concerns. Aktürk reported that over 200 individuals were apprehended in the past week attempting to illegally cross the Turkish border, with five identified as having affiliations with terrorist organizations. He added that nearly 4,000 individuals were prevented from unauthorized border crossings during the same period. These figures contribute to a growing total of over 1,300 individuals apprehended and over 27,000 prevented from illegal border crossings since the beginning of the year, highlighting the Turkish government's efforts to secure its borders.

It is crucial to note that the Turkish government employs the term "neutralized" to encompass militants killed, wounded, or captured during operations. (ILKHA)