3 terrorists neutralized in southeastern Turkey

By Jeyhun Aliyev

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish security forces "neutralized" three armed terrorists in the country’s southeast, the country's Interior Ministry said on Thursday.

The terrorists have been neutralized by the provincial gendarmerie special operations forces in the air-backed anti-terror operation in the countryside of Adiyaman province, the ministry said in a statement.

The operation in the region is still underway, it added.

Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralize" to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.

Though the statement did not mention a specific terrorist group, Turkey has long been conducting operations against the PKK in the region.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.