The Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) neutralized 7,016 terrorists last year, 3,239 of whom were members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorist organization, and 3,777 of whom were Daesh terrorists, according to the 2017 annual fight against terrorism report.
The report stated that 1,958 weapon pits, shelters, caves and arms depots used by terrorist organizations were destroyed and that 439,195 people who attempted to illegally cross the Turkish border were caught during border surveillance and controls.
The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union and the United States. The PKK has been conducting armed violence in the southeastern part of Turkey since 1984. More than 40,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in the three-decade long conflict.
In narcotic operations held in 2017, 54 tons of powdered marijuana and drugs, 4,734,027 cannabis roots and 26,483 pills were seized.
The TAF also reported that 9,236 people were dismissed and that 5,399 were arrested in Turkey’s fight against the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ).
FETÖ terrorists are led by U.S.-based Fetullah Gülen, who orchestrated Turkey's July 15 coup attempt and is the mastermind behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.
