UPDATE - Türkiye ‘neutralizes’ 7 PKK terrorists in northern Iraq

UPDATE WITH FIVE MORE TERROISTS KILLED IN NORTHERN IRAQ; REVISES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE

By Merve Berker/Esra Tekin

ANKARA/ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkish security forces “neutralized” seven PKK terrorists in northern Iraq, the National Defense Ministry said on Friday.

In a statement, the ministry said two terrorists were targeted and “neutralized” in the Operation Claw zone.

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

In a separate statement, the National Defense Ministry said that five more PKK terrorists were “neutralized” with an unmanned combat aerial vehicle.

“Our heroic Turkish Armed Forces continue to destroy terror hideouts with the motto "Wherever the terrorist is, that's where our target is!" the ministry said.

PKK terrorists often hide out in northern Iraq to plot cross-border attacks in Türkiye.

Türkiye launched Operation Claw-Lock last year in April to target the PKK terror group’s hideouts in the Metina, Zap, and Avasin-Basyan regions of northern Iraq, located near the Turkish border.

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