Turkey neutralizes 46 terrorists over past week

The Interior Ministry on Monday announced that Turkish security forces had "neutralized" 46 terrorists in counterterrorism operations in nationwide operations from Aug. 27 to Sep. 3.

Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply that the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.

In a statement, the ministry said four senior operatives of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terror group were among those neutralized.

Two of the killed terrorists were identified as Deniz Yuksel, codenamed “Haki”, and Cihan Gercek, codenamed “Baran Dersim”. Both had been on Turkey's most wanted terrorist list.

Among the eight terrorists that were captured alive, Merdan Rustu Ovalioglu, codenamed “Leheng Dersim”, or “Adil”, and Abdulhamit Ozbahceci, a so-called senior figure codenamed “Mazlum Pling” were on the ministry’s wanted list.

The ministry said that 25, including four so-called senior members, of the terrorists were killed, while 12 surrendered, and eight others surrendered to authorities.

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 women and children.

The security forces carried out a total of 2,290 ground and air operations.

During the operations, security forces also arrested 286 suspects for crimes linked to terrorism, and 101 others for human trafficking, while 3,273 people were held for crimes linked to drugs and smuggling.

The security forces also destroyed 13 shelters and caves and five improvised explosives.

In addition, the security forces seized 11 hand grenades, 12 assorted weapons, and 1,100 rounds of ammunition.