ANKARA, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish National Intelligence Organization has "neutralized" a senior member of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) who was planning a suicide bombing in Türkiye, the state-run TRT broadcaster reported on Tuesday.
Hezal Belge, known by her code name "Jinda Gundikramo," was neutralized in Syria's Amude region following an intelligence-led operation, TRT quoted anonymous security forces as saying.
Belge had reportedly been under long-term surveillance due to her involvement in the group's activities targeting Türkiye's territory. Despite multiple attempts to carry out attacks, she allegedly postponed them due to robust counter-terrorism measures within the country.
Belge, a PKK member since 2004, had also played a significant role in recruiting Syrian locals to join the organization, TRT reported.
Before her operations in Syria, she reportedly served for many years in northern Iraq as a senior figure within the group.
Belge sustained injuries during a 2021 conflict and, after receiving treatment in Iraq's Sulaymaniyah city, returned to Syria to continue her activities as the group's head in the Amude region.
The PKK, which is designated as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the United States and the European Union, has waged a rebellion against the Turkish government for more than three decades.
Türkiye has been conducting cross-border operations in Iraq and Syria to target the PKK and the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) hideouts. Türkiye sees the YPG group as the PKK's Syrian branch.
Turkish authorities often use the term "neutralized" in their statements to imply that the "terrorists" in question have either surrendered, been killed, or been captured. ■
