4 terrorists neutralized in southeastern Turkey

By Muhammed Nuri Erdogan

ANKARA (AA) - Four terrorists were neutralized in southeastern Turkey, the Turkish Interior Ministry said on Tuesday.

The terrorists were neutralized in rural areas of Derik, in the Mardin province, by the provincial gendarmerie commandos and special forces teams, said a ministry statement.

Operations are ongoing in the area, it added.

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

The statement did not specify the terrorists' affiliation, but the terrorist YPG/PKK has traditionally been active in eastern/southeastern Turkey.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including many women, children, and infants. The YPG is the PKK's Syrian branch.

* Writing by Jeyhun Aliyev