By Havva Kara Aydin
ANKARA (AA) - Turkish security forces “neutralized” nine PKK terrorists in northern Iraq, the National Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday.
In a Twitter post, the ministry announced that four terrorists in Avasin and five in Hakurk regions were neutralized in an air-backed operation.
Turkish authorities generally use the word "neutralized" to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.
PKK terrorists often use northern Iraq to plan cross-border terrorist attacks in Turkey.
In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of over 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.