11 PKK militants ‘neutralized’ in airstrikes in Şırnak, northern Iraq

ANKARA - Anadolu Agency

Airstrikes have “neutralized” 11 outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants in northern Iraq and the rural regions of Turkey’s southern Şırnak province, the Turkish General Staff said July 4.

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

On Twitter, the Turkish General Staff said fighter jets had conducted airstrikes on July 3-4 in northern Iraq’s Qandil, Zap-Avasin Basyan, and Gara regions as well as in rural areas of Turkey’s Şırnak, which borders both Syria and Iraq.

At least 11 PKK militants were neutralized, while shelters, weapon emplacements, and ammunition depots were also destroyed in the airstrikes, the statement added.

The Interior Ministry said on July 2 at least 36 PKK militants were “neutralized” during anti-terror operations across Turkey between June 25 and July.

Turkish Armed Forces carried out a total of 1,363 counter-terror operations over the said period, according to the ministry.

Twenty-one militants were killed, four others were captured and 11 surrendered to authorities, the ministry said.