Turkish forces neutralize 2 more PKK terrorists in northern Iraq

By Gozde Bayar

ANKARA (AA) - Two more terrorists have been neutralized in Turkey’s cross-border anti-terror operations in northern Iraq, the National Defense Ministry said on Friday.

“Two more PKK terrorists found in the region were neutralized by our heroic commandos,” the ministry said on Twitter.

Turkish authorities often use the word “neutralized” in statements to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.

The ministry said that the number of neutralized terrorists in the operations Pence-Simsek and Pence Yildirim reached 72.

Turkey launched operations Pence-Simsek and Pence-Yildirim on April 23 in northern Iraq’s Metina and Avasin-Basyan regions near its borders.

The PKK terror group often uses bases in northern Iraq just across Turkey's southern border to hide and plot terror attacks in Turkey.

In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and the EU – has been responsible for the deaths of at least 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.​​​​​​​