ANKARA, Jun 7 (NNN-ANADOLU) – A senior official of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) was killed, in a Turkish intelligence operation in northern Iraq, Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday.
“Selman Bozkir, codenamed Doctor Huseyin, senior official of the PKK terrorist organisation and general manager of Makhmur, was neutralised by the heroes of our National Intelligence Organisation (MIT) yesterday (Saturday),” Erdogan tweeted.
Turkish authorities usually use the word “neutralise” to imply that “terrorists” in question have surrendered or were killed.
Makhmur is a UN-led Kurdish refugee camp, 180 km south of the Turkish border. Ankara has long been accusing the camp of harbouring PKK members.
Erdogan said, Turkey will not allow the “treacherous organisation” to use Makhmur camp as an “incubator for terrorism.”
“We will continue to exterminate terrorism at its source,” he added.
Last week, the Turkish president said, Turkey will “clean up” the refugee camp. “If the United Nations does not clean it up, we will do it as a UN member,” he said on Jun 2.
Turkish forces frequently carry out ground operations, airstrikes and artillery bombardments against PKK positions in northern Iraq, especially the Qandil Mountains, the main base of the group.– NNN-ANADOLU
