Turkey neutralizes 76 PKK terrorists in N Iraq operation

ANKARA-Anadolu Agency

Turkey has neutralized at least 25 more PKK terrorists in its counter-terrorism operation in northern Iraq, adding to a grand total of 76 neutralized under the ongoing operation, an official statement said on June 16.

As part of the ongoing Operation Claw -- which was launched on May 27 by the Turkish Armed Forces against the PKK terror group -- a total of 76 terrorists have been neutralized in the Hakurk region over the last three weeks, the National Defense Ministry said on Twitter.

Authorities often use the word "neutralized" in statements to imply terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.

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 many women and children.