18 PKK militants ‘neutralized’ in Turkey’s southeast

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

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A total of 18 outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants were “neutralized” in Turkey’s southeastern Diyarbakır, Şırnak and Osmaniye provinces on July 11, the Interior Ministry said. 

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

During the operations security forces “neutralized” 11 militants in Osmaniye, four in Şırnak and three in Diyarbakır, a ministry statement said.

The operations are still ongoing, the statement added.

28 PKK targets hit in Iraq’s north

Meanwhile, Turkish airstrikes have “destroyed” 28 PKK targets in northern Iraq, the General Staff said in a statement on July 11.

The military said fighter jets hit targets on July 10 in northern Iraq’s Qandil, Matina, Zap, Avasin-Basyan, Hakurk and Gara regions, destroying shelters and depots that were used by PKK.

Turkish officials have recently suggested the Mount Qandil region—where the group has its headquarters—may be the target of a future operation.

Airstrikes on PKK targets in northern Iraq have been carried out regularly since July 2015, when a peace process between the Turkish government and the PKK collapsed.