In a recent statement, Turkey's National Defense Ministry has reported significant successes in its ongoing campaign against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in the Kurdistan Region and neighboring Syria. The Turkish authorities have declared that their forces have "neutralized" more than 1,700 PKK fighters in the year 2023 alone, according to state media Anadolu Agency.

The term "neutralize" as used by the Turkish government implies actions like killing or surrendering in relation to its military operations against the PKK.

The figures released by the Defense Ministry indicate that as many as 1,715 PKK/YPG terrorists have been neutralized since the beginning of the year, with operations targeting militants hiding across the border in Iraq and northern Syria. These operations are part of Turkey's ongoing efforts to combat the PKK, a separatist group with a long history of armed conflict with the Turkish state.

During the past week, Turkish security forces intensified their cross-border operations, neutralizing 33 PKK fighters. The week saw a series of military actions against the PKK, including airstrikes and drone attacks. On a night in the middle of the week, Turkish fighter jets bombed PKK positions in Erbil's Sidakan district, resulting in the death of nine fighters. Additionally, drone attacks struck PKK positions in the subdistricts of Shiladze and Deraluk near the town of Amedi in Duhok province, killing one fighter and injuring three others, as reported by the Kurdistan Region's Counter-Terrorism Unit.

These recent escalations came in response to a PKK suicide attack on Ankara's national police headquarters earlier in the month. In retaliation, Turkey increased its air raids in the Kurdistan Region and neighboring Syria, demonstrating the ongoing tensions and violence in the region.

The conflict between Turkey and the PKK has persisted for more than four decades, leading to significant impacts on various aspects of life in the Kurdistan Region. The presence of the PKK has resulted in numerous civilian casualties, the forced evacuation of thousands of villages, and the abandonment of many mountain resorts and valuable agricultural lands, creating a complex and long-standing issue in the region.

The situation remains fluid, with Turkey's military operations and the PKK's insurgency continuing to shape the dynamics in the region. International observers are closely monitoring the developments as both sides remain entrenched in this prolonged armed conflict.