Eren operations deal heavy blow to PKK terrorists in Turkey
TWENTY terrorists have been eliminated and 339 caves, shelters and depots have been destroyed in 14 different domestic counterterrorism operations as part of Eren-Winter operations.
According to the information provided by the Interior Ministry, 14 separate ErenWinter operations continue successfully despite the harsh winter conditions.
From Nov. 7, 2021, when the first operation began, 12,171 gendarmerie commandos, gendarmerie special operations, police special operations and security guards took part in Eren-Winter operations, and 20 terrorists were neutralized.
Some of the so-called high-ranking terrorists who were on the list of wanted terrorists were among those neutralized. In addition, 10 people who were determined to be in cooperation with the PKK were caught during the operations.
During the operations, 339 caves, shelters and depots used by the PKK were destroyed. A total of 86 weapons, including anti-aircraft, rocket launchers, mortars, long-barreled weapons, sniper rifles and flamethrowers, 160 grenades, 51 handmade explosives, 260 detonators, 1.65 tons of explosives, 28 binoculars, 22 radios, 20,754 ammunition and a large number of life materials were seized.
This year, Turkey initiated Operation Eren, named after Eren Bülbül, a 15-yearold boy killed by the terrorist group on Aug. 11, 2017. Eren-Winter Operations are being carried out to completely eradicate terrorism in the country.
Turkish security forces regularly conduct counterterrorism operations in the eastern and southeastern provinces of Turkey, where the PKK has attempted to establish a strong presence.
Security forces also carry out operations abroad where the terrorist organization poses a threat. The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) regularly conducts cross-border operations in northern Iraq, a region where PKK terrorists have hideouts and bases from which to carry out attacks against Turkey.
In its more than 40-year terrorism campaign against Turkey, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union – has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.
2 TERRORISTS DETAINED
Meanwhile, counterterrorism police detained two PKK terrorists planning to carry out attacks in Turkey’s southern Mersin province yesterday.
According to a statement by Mersin Police Directorate, the terrorist, identified as Z.K. had illegally entered Turkey through Greece and was planning to carry out an attack in Mersin.
The other terrorist, identified as A.G., had provided assistance to Z.K. and were both detained in the same address, which reportedly served as a terrorist cell in the city.
Terrorist Z.K. had received training in the PKK camps in Greece, according to the Demirören News Agency (DHA).
Greece has long been accused of being a favorite hideout for terrorists from the DHKP-C and PKK. Those fleeing Turkey have taken shelter in refugee camps in Lavrion near Athens under the guise of being asylum-seekers, especially in the 1980s. Despite the closure of Lavrion in 2013 amid pressure from Turkey, Greece continues to be the primary destination for DHKP-C terrorists.
Turkey has stepped up its fight against PKK terrorists with security forces carrying out counterterrorism raids and operations to clear terrorists and hold those who supported them accountable.
EXTENSIVE OP AGAINST DAESH
Separately, security forces launched an extensive operation to detain 20 wanted Daesh terrorists in Mersin yesterday.
Some 300 police officers are taking part in the operation, dubbed “Claw-2,” which was launched at dawn, Anadolu Agency (AA) reported.
They carried out simultaneous raids on 19 addresses and took security precautions on the entrances and exits of streets. They also confiscated some digital materials found in some of the addresses, the report added. The operation is still ongoing.
In 2013, Turkey became one of the first countries to declare Daesh a terrorist group. The country has since been attacked by the terrorist group multiple times, with over 300 people killed and hundreds more injured in at least 10 suicide bombings, seven bomb attacks and four armed assaults. In response, Turkey launched counterterrorism operations within and abroad to prevent further attacks.