27 terrorists neutralized in Turkey, N. Iraq last week

By Sinan Uslu

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish Armed Forces "neutralized" 27 terrorists from March 10-16 in Turkey and northern Iraq, according to the General Staff on Saturday.

The military said in a statement the PKK/KCK terrorists were neutralized in counterterrorism operations in the southeastern Turkish provinces of Diyarbakir, Tunceli, Sirnak as well as in northern Iraq.

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

A total of 6,569 people were also apprehended while attempting to cross the borders illegally ways, the statement read.

It added that four Turkish soldiers were martyred and six others were injured during last week’s operations.

The PKK -- recognized as a terrorist group by the U.S., the EU, and Turkey -- is responsible for the deaths of more than 1,200 Turkish security personnel and civilians, including women and children, since July 2015.