Turkish forces ‘neutralize’ 141 PKK terrorists in Turkey, northern Iraq in May: Turkey
Turkish military forces have “neutralized” more than a hundred members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militant group following a string of counter-terrorism operations in the country’s southeastern provinces as well as Iraq’s northern semi-autonomous Kurdistan region in the month of May.
Turkish Deputy Interior Minister Ismail Catakli told reporters on Monday that 141 PKK terrorists were “neutralized” in counter-terrorism ground operation and airstrikes last month.
He added that 3,645 people were captured for their suspected links to the terror organizations during the same period as well.
The Turkish military generally uses the term "neutralize" to signify that the militants were killed, captured or surrendered.
Meanwhile, the Turkish Defense Ministry, in a statement published on its official Twitter page, announced that Turkish forces had conducted clean-up operations in northern Iraq, neutralizing six PKK terrorists.
Five terrorists were neutralized in Turkish airstrikes on Zap region, while one terrorist was neutralized in Hakurk region, the ministry said.
PKK militants regularly clash with Turkish forces in the Kurdish-dominated southeast of Turkey attached to northern Iraq.
Turkey, along with the European Union and the United States, has declared the PKK a terrorist group and banned it. The militant group has been seeking an autonomous Kurdish region since 1984.
A shaky ceasefire between the PKK and the Turkish government collapsed in July 2015. Attacks on Turkish security forces have soared ever since.
Over the past few months, Turkish ground and air forces have been carrying out operations against PKK positions in the country as well as in northern Iraq and neighboring Syria.
More than 40,000 people have been killed during the three-decade conflict between Turkey and the autonomy-seeking militant group.
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