4 PKK militants 'neutralized' in Turkey, northern Iraq

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

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Four outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants were “neutralized” in southeastern Turkey and northern Iraq, according to the military on July 3. 

Turkish authorities use the term “neutralized” to signify the militants in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.

The Turkish General Staff said on its official Twitter account that four armed terrorists were neutralized in an air operation in Turkey’s southeastern province of Şırnak and northern Iraq’s Zap and Avashin-Basyan areas.

The operation, which also destroyed shelters and weapon warehouses used by “the separatist terrorist group,” was conducted on July 2, the statement read.

Turkish authorities use the term “separatist terrorist group” to refer to the PKK, which is considered a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.

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