PKK terrorists abduct, kill 2 shepherds

ŞIRNAK/ ANKARA- Anadolu Agency

Two shepherds who were abducted by PKK terrorists in southeastern Şırnak province were found dead on July 9.

Abdulhakim Demir and Vali Çevik were kidnapped while herding their flocks in Geçitboyu village, according to security sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.     

Demir and Çevik's bodies were found dead from gunshot wounds.     

Security forces launched an operation to nab the terrorists.     

PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU.

Meanwhile, Turkish fighter jets have "neutralized" 15 more PKK terrorists in northern Iraq, Turkey's National Defense Ministry said on July 10.   

The terrorists were "neutralized" in the Haftanin region as part of airstrikes carried out in coordination with Operation Claw, the ministry said on Twitter.     

Turkish authorities often use the term "neutralized" in statements to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.     

In the meantime, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) should not be misused by terrorists and terrorist-linked organizations, a Turkish diplomat stated on July 9 at OSCE's informal ministerial meeting in Bratislava, Slovakia.       

The meeting touched on the importance of continuation of cooperation based on OSCE's multilateralism principals to find a resolution for current global security issues, especially the problems that EU faced, Turkey's Deputy Foreign Minister Sedat Önal said.       

"For some important issues, OSCE emphasized to make tangible contributions in the field," he said. "As Turkey who agreed with it, we also mentioned the importance of multilateralism," Önal added.       

In his speech during the meeting, Önal said the OSCE platform should not be abused by terrorists and related structures.