Minister Yerlikaya: Neutralization of 2 Terrorists, 1 in Gray Category
Recently in Turkey, two terrorists, one of whom was in the gray category, were neutralized in a major operation. The operation was part of a larger effort to combat terrorism and took place in the rural area of Diyarbakır’s Lice district.
Minister of Internal Affairs Ali Yerlikaya made a statement on a social media account about the successful operation, which was named as Operation Heroes-50. The joint work carried out by the Provincial Gendarmerie Command and the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) led to the neutralization of two high-profile terrorists who had been in the gray category on the wanted list for terrorism. Their names were Hasip Şimşek, codenamed ‘Demhat Eylül’, and Mehmet Akalan, codenamed ‘Memo’. The security forces also managed to detain two suspects who were determined to be aiding and abetting terrorists.
Hasip Şimşek was involved in several high-profile attacks, including a bomb-laden vehicle attack on Elazığ Police Department, which resulted in the deaths of 3 police officers and 2 civilians, as well as the injury of 217 citizens. He was also involved in an armed attack on the Hani-Topçular highway in Diyarbakır’s Hani district, in which 1 military personnel and 1 security guard were killed. Additionally, the investigation revealed that Şimşek participated in an attack on the Diyarbakır Artillery Gendarmerie Station Command, which resulted in the death of 1 security guard.
On the other hand, Mehmet Akalan was responsible for six hand-made explosive attacks in Diyarbakır’s Yenişehir district, as well as a grenade attack and gunfire aimed at an armored police vehicle in front of the Yenişehir Şehitler Police Headquarters. He was also involved in the arson of a vehicle belonging to Yenişehir Municipality.
Minister Ali Yerlikaya congratulated the MİT members and gendarmerie teams who carried out the operation, emphasizing that the fight against terrorism will continue with determination until the last terrorist is neutralized.
The successful operation drew a response from Minister Yerlikaya, who tweeted, “THE BLOOD OF OUR MARTYRS HAS NOT LEFT ON THE GROUND, IT WILL NOT LEFT. In the ‘HEROES-50’ Operation carried out in Lice district of Diyarbakır province; A total of 2 Terrorists were Neutralized, 1 of which was in the GRAY Category. I want our dear nation to know that; Traitors Breathe One by One.”
This operation serves as a clear sign of the government’s continued commitment to combat terrorism in Turkey.
