Greek court rules to extradite suspected terrorist to Turkey
A Greek court on June 1 ordered the extradition of a suspected far-left terrorist to Turkey. Turgut Kaya, a suspected member of the outlawed Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C) was arrested in February while trying to enter into Greece.
According to Greek judicial procedures, the final decision about Kaya, against whom there is an Interpol red notice, is to be made by Greek Justice Minister Stavros Kontonis. Source
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Over 50 Daesh suspects arrested in Istanbul
Turkish security forces arrested 51 suspects in Turkey’s Istanbul for their alleged links to the Daesh terror group on Saturday. The operation was conducted simultaneously across 15 addresses in nine districts of Istanbul.
All the suspects remanded in the operations in Avcılar, Başakşehir, Çatalca, Çekmeköy, Esenyurt, Fatih, Gaziosmanpaşa, Pendik and Sultanbeyli were foreign nationals. Police also seized organizational documents and digital tools linked to the terror group. Source
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Three soldiers killed in PKK rocket attack
Three Turkish soldiers were killed and another soldier was injured in an attack by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in the southeastern province of Hakkari on June 3.
PKK militants launched a rocket from a mountainous area on the Iraqi side of the border, security sources told state-run Anadolu Agency on condition of anonymity. The Turkish military started an operation to “neutralize” the militants.
Authorities often use the word “neutralized” in statements to imply that the militants in question were either killed or captured. “A total of 30 terrorists, including three so-called PKK leaders, were neutralized during counter-terrorism operations across Turkey in the past one week,” the Interior Ministry said on June 4. Source
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2 YPG/PKK terrorists arrested on Turkish-Syrian border
Security forces arrested 2 suspected members of the PKK/PYD/YPG terrorist group on the Turkish-Syrian border, sources said on Monday.
Turkish intelligence alerted security forces after receiving information that 2 suspected terrorists were set to cross into the Turkish border town of Ceylanpinar from Syria’s Ras al-Ayn, the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on talking to the media, said. Source
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PKK threatens “hot Summer” in Turkey
As Turkish troops continue advancing towards the Qandil mountains, where the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) headquarters are located, the PKK have promised an escalation of its campaign of violence inside Turkey, Iraqi Kurdish news outlet Rudaw said .
“Of course, we are in a state of war against the Turkish army. The escalation is in the upcoming days. We can say we are expecting a hot summer with Turkey,” spokesman Bahoz Erdal was quoted as saying.
Erdal said that the PKK had provided the People’s Protection Units (YPG) in Syria with weapons while it was fighting against the Islamic State (ISIS), but said that the YPG was not a part of the PKK.
“We aided the People’s Protection Units in Syria clearly and intensely during the Daesh [ISIS] attacks. We provided them with ammunition and military advice to develop their methods of protecting their areas,” he said.
Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Fikri Işık, meanwhile, said that “Turkey has moved from defense to offense in the fight against terrorism” in its attempts to wipe out the PKK. Source
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64 PKK militants neutralized in northern Iraq in June: Turkish military
A total of 64 outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants were “neutralized” in northern Iraq from June 1-7 during security operations, the Turkish military said on June 8.
Turkish authorities often use the word “neutralized” in their statements to imply that the militants in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.
Turkish jets have been targeting shelters, hideouts, and weapons pits belonging to the PKKas part of anti-terror operations in northern Iraq.
In a statement, the Turkish General Staff said airstrikes against the PKK were carried out in the regions of Zap, Hakurk, and Qandil Mountains in northern Iraq.
Airstrikes on PKK targets in northern Iraq, where the insurgent group has its headquarters in the Qandil Mountains near the Iranian border, have been carried out regularly since July 2015, after the ceasefire between the Turkish state and the group failed. Read
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Drone neutralizes 9 PKK terrorists in SE Turkey
At least nine PKK terrorists were "neutralized" by a drone strike during a counter-terror operation in the southeastern province of Sirnak on Friday, the interior ministry said.
Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply that the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.
Earlier, the provincial governor's office said that the aerial drone-backed operation took place in the Bestler-Dereler region near Sirnak. Source
Turkish policeman martyred in PKK terror attack
A Turkish policeman was martyred during a counter-terror operation in southwestern Sirnak province, according to security sources on Saturday. The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media, said a soldier was also injured during the drone-backed operation targeting the PKK terror group.
On Friday, security forces launched an operation in Bestler-Mt. Kaval region against PKK terrorists who were plotting an attack. Nine PKK terrorists were "neutralized" by a drone strike during a counter-terror operation. 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 operation is still underway, the sources added. Source
Detention warrants issued for 3 active duty, 20 retired military personnel
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9 terrorists neutralized in Turkey, northern Iraq
Turkish army neutralized nine terrorists during anti-terror operations in Turkey and northern Iraq, according to the military on Monday.
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 statement, Turkish General Staff said two out of nine terrorists were neutralized in Hakurk region in northern Iraq during an airstrike on Sunday.
Shelters and weapon emplacements used by terrorists were also destroyed in the area, the statement said.
Separate airstrikes also neutralized another seven terrorists in Bestler-Dereler area in eastern Turkey's Sirnak province, the statement added. Source
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Turkey neutralizes more than 65 terrorists in 1 week
A total of 69 terrorists were “neutralized” during counter-terrorism operations across Turkey over the past one week, the Interior Ministry said Monday. In a statement, the ministry said Turkish Armed Forces carried out 1,683 counter-terrorism operations on June 4-11 with the assistance of land and air forces. The ministry said 40 of the terrorists were killed, 17 others were captured, and 12 surrendered to authorities.
During the operations, 234 people were arrested for allegedly aiding and abetting the PKK terrorist group and 37 others for their suspected links to the Daesh terrorist group. Also, another 492 people were arrested for suspected links to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind the July 2016 defeated coup, which martyred 250 people and injured nearly 2,200, and eight others for their links to leftist terrorist groups.
Listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and the EU, the PKK has been responsible for the death of some 40,000 people since the mid-1980s.Security forces also destroyed 12 shelters, including several caves and eight improvised explosives, during operations in the eastern and southeastern provinces of Bitlis, Diayrbakir, and Van, the statement said. In addition, they seized 26 hand grenades, 24 assorted weapons, and 4,320 rounds of ammunition.
During the operations, security forces also arrested 771 suspects for crimes linked to terrorism, and 114 others for organized migrant trafficking crimes, while more than 3,606 people were held for crimes linked to drugs and smuggling. After examining 624 social media accounts, the Turkish police’s cybercrime division launched legal proceedings against 306 suspects. Additionally, 2,681 anti-drug and -contraband operations were carried out, during which 359 suspects were captured, according to the statement. Source
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5 more PKK terrorists ‘neutralized’ in SE Turkey
At least five more PKK terrorists have been “neutralized” in an ongoing counterterrorism operation in southeast Turkey, the local governor’s office said on Sunday. Since Friday, the governor’s office said in a statement the total number of terrorists “neutralized” by drone strikes in the southeastern Sirnak province had risen to 19.
Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply that the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured. On Friday, security forces launched an operation in the Bestler-Mt. Kaval region against PKK terrorists who were plotting an attack.
A Turkish police officer was martyred during the counterterror operation, according to security sources on Saturday. The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media, said a soldier was also injured during the drone-backed operation targeting the PKK terror group. Source
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Turkish military launches Qandil operation to destroy PKK headquarters
Turkey launched an operation in the Qandil mountains in northern Iraq on Monday to clear PKK terrorists in the area and eradicate the leadership of the terrorist organization. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced the operation during his rally in the central Anatolian province of Niğde, saying the main aim was to drain the terrorist group's swamps in the area.
"We've launched our operation in Qandil… with 20 of our airplanes, we've destroyed 14 targets so far," the president said. The Qandil mountains, located roughly 40 kilometers southeast of the Turkish border in Iraq's Irbil province, are being used as the headquarters of PKK and its Iranian affiliate, the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK), although the area is under de jure control of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
The area has frequently been hit by the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) in the last decade. However, airstrikes on PKK targets in the region have been carried out regularly since July 2015, when the PKK resumed its decades-long armed campaign. Since last March, the number of operations in the region have escalated. Expressing that Qandil will no longer pose a threat for Turkey by serving as a source of terrorism, Erdoğan said that terrorist elements will be eliminated from the region just as they were eliminated in Afrin, Jarablus, al-Bab and Azez. Read the full article
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Airstrikes hit 14 PKK targets in Kandil Mountains
Turkish airstrikes destroyed 14 targets belonging to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in the Qandil Mountain region of northern Iraq, the military said in a statement on June 10. Airstrikes on PKK targets in northern Iraq, where the insurgent group has its headquarters in the Kandil Mountains near the Iranian border, have been carried out regularly since July 2015, after a ceasefire between the Turkish state and the militant group failed.
“A military operation targeting PKK bases in Jandil and Sinjar will be launched if Turkey is threatened and if Baghdad says it is unable to solve the problem.” President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on June 7. Erdoğan also said that the United Nations refugee camp Mahmur in the Arbil governorate could be another target.
“Mahmur is very important. If the United Nations cannot solve this problem, we will strike Mahmur,” he said, describing the camp as a “breeding ground for terrorists.” The General Staff also announced that two militants were neutralized in the Hakurk region of northern Iraq during an airstrike on June 10. Source
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Turkish PM blames PKK for armed attack in SE Turkey
Prime Minister Binali Yildirim blamed terrorist group PKK on Thursday over an armed attack in southeastern Turkey, which left at least three people dead and nine others injured. “There are police records that the perpetrators or suspects are PKK sympathizers,” said Yildirim in a live interview to broadcaster TRT Haber.
Earlier on Thursday, members of the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party were attacked in Sanliurfa province while they were campaigning for the upcoming elections. “An election cannot be won with blood [or] by force for whatever reason,” Yildirim said. “Election means democracy, election means people reflecting their wishes freely,” he added.
The premier said police and local authorities in the city had brought the situation in control. Health Minister Ahmet Demircan said MP Ibrahim Halil Yildiz was the target but he survived the attack. However, his older brother Mehmet Ali Yildiz died after succumbing to his wounds at the hospital. Sanliurfa Governorship said in a statement that Yildiz, accompanied by a group of people, was visiting tradesmen in the center of Suruc district as part of his election campaign.
“Three people died and nine others were injured when a discussion turned into a fight,” the statement added. Two of the injured are in critical condition, the statement added. Source
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Turkish jets ‘neutralize’ 26 PKK terrorists in Qandil
Turkish jets "neutralized” 26 PKK terrorists including a senior member as part of counterterrorism operations in northern Iraq, the military said Friday. 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 Turkish General Staff said the fighter jets had conducted airstrikes targeting the terror group on June 12 in Qandil region. Airstrikes on PKK targets in northern Iraq have been carried out regularly since July 2015, when the PKK resumed its decades-long armed campaign.
Turkey has launched anti-terror operations in both Qandil and Sinjar regions in northern Iraq, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday. In a separate operation in rural areas of southeastern Hakkari province, Turkish security forces discovered a huge ammunition cache belonged to the PKK group. Source
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30 Daesh-linked suspects arrested in Istanbul
Turkish security forces on Saturday arrested 30 foreign nationals in Istanbul for their alleged links to the Daesh terror group, a police source said.
Counter-terrorism squads carried out simultaneous raids in seven districts and apprehended the suspects, who were allegedly plotting terror attacks, said the source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.
During the raids, police apprehended at least 30 suspects and seized organizational documents and digital materials, the source added. Security forces have been involved in a long-running campaign to rid Turkey of Daesh terrorists. More than 300 people have lost their lives in Daesh-claimed attacks in Turkey, where the terror group has targeted civilians in suicide bomb, rocket, and gun attacks. Source
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Turkish jets ‘neutralize’ 35 PKK terrorists in Qandil
Turkish jets "neutralized” 35 PKK terrorists as part of counterterrorism operations in northern Iraq’s Qandil region, the military said Sunday. 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 Turkish General Staff said the fighter jets had conducted airstrikes targeting the terror group on June 15 in Qandil region. Airstrikes on PKK targets in northern Iraq have been carried out regularly since July 2015, when the PKK resumed its decades-long armed campaign. Source
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7 PKK/KCK suspects arrested in southern Turkey
At least 17 suspects were arrested for their alleged links to the PKK/KCK terror group in the southern Adana province, police sources said on Monday.
The suspects, including three women, were rounded up in the city center and Ceyhan district during anti-terror operations supported by police special forces, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media. Source
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36 PKK militants ‘neutralized’ in two days
The Turkish army has neutralized 36 outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants in anti-terror operations in both Turkey and northern Iraq, the military said early June 19. Turkish authorities often use the word “neutralized” in their statements to imply that the militants in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.
In a statement, the Turkish General Staff said airstrikes on June 17 and June 18 hit PKKtargets in northern Iraq's Avasin-Basyan region.Airstrikes also targeted the PKK in the Silopi area in eastern Turkey's Şırnak province and the Hani area in the southeastern Diyarbakır province, the statement added.
Shelters and weapon emplacements used by PKK militants were also destroyed during the operation, the statement said. Source
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Turkish army neutralizes 87 PKK terrorists in a week
Turkish military neutralized 87 PKK terrorists during counter-terrorism operations in southeastern Turkey's Sirnak province and northern Iraq over the past week, the military said on Friday. Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply that the terrorists in question were either killed, captured or surrendered.
Six Turkish soldiers were also martyred and 12 others wounded during the operations carried out between June 15 and June 21. During the operations, 127 improvised explosives were also defused while 12 weapon emplacements and shelters were destroyed, it added. 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. Furthermore, the statement said 3,767 people were also held in the same period in June, while they were trying to pass through borders illegally.23 Source
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21 arrested for PKK terror links across Turkey
At least 21 people have been arrested during anti-terror operations across Turkey, authorities said Friday. Sixteen suspects were arrested in southeastern Van province's Gurpinar district for aiding and abetting the PKK/KCK terrorist organization, the city’s gendarmerie command said.
Digital material used in propaganda for the terrorist organization was also seized. In separate raids, another five suspects were arrested in four provinces, including Hatay, Adana, Diyarbakir and Istanbul, according to a statement issued by the Hatay governor's office.
The PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- resumed its armed campaign against Turkey in July 2015. Since then, it has been responsible for the deaths of more than 1,200 Turkish security personnel and civilians, including women and children. Source