More than 4,900 YPG/PKK terrorists were neutralized over the past four months of 2018 in counterterrorism operations in and outside Turkey, according to Anadolu Agency data.
"Neutralized" is a term used by Turkish authorities to imply that the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.
In operations between Jan. 1-April 30, 4,908 YPG/PKK terrorists were neutralized in air and land operations that targeted terrorists in and abroad Turkey.
Eighty security officers were martyred in terrorist PKK attacks and 117 soldiers needed to receive treatment in hospitals.
The attacks left 18 civilians dead, and 140 injured.
Meanwhile, 2,323 terror suspects were arrested as part of operations against the PKK in Turkish cities, 747 of whom, were remanded in custody. This includes provincial heads of the opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) as well as Leyla Guven, co-chair of the umbrella group Democratic Society Congress (DTK).
Senior members of the PKK terror group were also neutralized in eastern and southeastern Turkey during the operations.
Murat Ucer -- in the blue category of the Turkish Interior Ministry's most wanted terrorists list -- was among them, along with Medeni Sayilgan, Seyithan Sinet and Yusuf Sek (red), Cihan Kit (orange); and Haydar Gul, Mehmet Reber Cetin, Masallah Malazgirt (grey) and Tarik Sen.
The wanted list is divided into five color-coded categories, with red as the most wanted, followed by blue, green, orange and grey.
- AFRIN LIBERATED
Operation Olive Branch, which was launched by Turkey on Jan. 20 to clear YPG/PKK-Daesh terrorists from Afrin in northwestern Syria is also ongoing.
On March 18, Turkish-backed troops liberated the town of Afrin, which had been a major hideout for the terrorist organization PYD/PKK since 2012.
The Turkish Armed Forces are working to restore normal daily life in Afrin by providing necessary humanitarian aid to the region.
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 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.
