UPDATES WITH MORE TERRORISTS KILLED; EDITS THROUGHOUT
By Muhammed Boztepe, Orhan Onur Gemici and Cemal Asan
TUNCELI/VAN, Turkey (AA) - Turkish security forces have “neutralized” five terrorists in counter-terrorism operations in the eastern Turkey, officials said Wednesday.
Turkish authorities often use “neutralized" in statements to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.
At least three terrorists were neutralized in a rural area of the eastern Tunceli province in an operation by the provincial gendarmerie command, the Interior Ministry said in a statement.
Earlier, security forces targeted two terrorists in an air-supported operation in the Catak district of eastern Van province, the ministry said.
The operations in the area continued, it added.
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 nearly 40,000 people, including women and children.
* Writing by Satuk Bugra Kutlugun and Jeyhun Aliyev