Turkish army ‘neutralizes’ 4 PKK militants

ŞIRNAK/TUNCELİ - Anadolu Agency

At least four militants who were plotting attacks were “neutralized” in Turkey’s eastern and southeastern provinces, local authorities and security sources said on Sept. 27.

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

In a statement by the governor’s office of the eastern province of Tunceli, two militants were neutralized in a counter-terrorism operation held in the rural areas of the Mazgirt district by provincial gendarmerie forces.

The statement by the governor’s office did not specify the groups involved but Turkey is embroiled in a long-running struggle against the PKK in the area.

Separately, two PKK militants were also “neutralized” in the southeastern Şırnak province, said security sources who asked to remain anonymous due to media restrictions.

Out of the two militants, one was captured alive while the other was killed during the operation. The captured militant was identified to be an Iranian national and responsible for the group’s Farasin region.

Operations in the region are ongoing, sources said.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.