Highlighting that the scores of capitulated Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terrorists reached the highest level over the last 17 years, Süleyman Soylu, the minister of internal affairs, said, ''457 people deserted the terrorist organization and surrendered to legal authorities in 2016.''
''We are not just struggling against terrorists. We are fighting against all elements and structures which create, aid and keep terrorism vigorous. I want to express clearly that we have no patience for those who aid terrorists by delivering arms and even those who give them moral support,'' he added, pointing out the very existence of supporters of terrorism.
The PKK, which has been recognized as a terror group by Turkey, the EU and the USA, renewed the decades-old war in July 2015 by breaking a bold peace process initiated by the Turkish government.
Since then, over 700 security officers and many civilians were martyred, while more than 8,000 PKK-member terrorists were killed.
