5 PKK terrorists neutralized in southeast Turkey

By Ekrem Payan and Sefa Sahin

MARDIN/SIRNAK, Turkey (AA) - Turkish security forces "neutralized" five PKK terrorists during operations in the country's southeast.

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

Three terrorists were neutralized during internal security operations launched by the provincial Gendarmerie Command and Police Department in Savur district of Mardin province, the Interior Ministry said early Thursday on Twitter.

Two other terrorists were neutralized in an air-backed anti-terror operation in Silopi district of Sirnak province, the provincial governor’s office said.

The operation was carried out to protect Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) workers and to neutralize PKK terrorists in the district, it said.

Three Turkish soldiers were martyred and another wounded in Silopi on Wednesday when they were attacked by PKK terrorists while guarding TPAO workers.

Turkey's presidential communications director Fahrettin Altun condemned the attack in a post on Twitter.

“Our state will continue to make life unbearable for all terrorist organizations which are attempting to attack our country.

“I wish Allah's mercy upon our heroes Muhammed Ferdi Guntekin, Mehmet Ucar and Ayhan Yanik who were martyred in the terrorist operation in Sirnak,” he said.

Anti-terror operations are continuing in the region.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union -- has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including many women, children and infants.