Turkey 'neutralizes' wanted PKK terrorist in northern Iraq

ANKARA

A PKK terrorist on Interpol and Turkey's Interior Ministry's red category of wanted terrorists list was "neutralized" on Tuesday in an operation in Iraq's northern province of Sulaymaniyah.

Turkey's National Intelligence Organization (MIT) had prior information of PKK terrorist Ulas Dogan, alias Ulas Dersim, planning a terror attack against Turkey in northern Iraq, security sources said and added that Dogan was provoking civilians in northern Iraq against Turkey.

Dogan was neutralized by MIT in the Qalat Dizah town of Sulaymaniyah shortly after arriving in the region.

Turkish authorities use the word "neutralize" to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.

These sources say the terrorist was involved in a number of landmine-planting activities.

The PKK terrorist organization had given him a shadow administrative position in the Hakurk region, where he ordered a series of terrorist attacks, including the killing of Turkish police officers and their relatives.

The terrorist group frequently hides out in northern Iraq, just across Turkey's southern border, to plan terror attacks.

In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and the EU – has been responsible for the deaths of at least 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.

* Writing by Dilan Pamuk in Ankara