Turkey 'neutralizes' 10 PKK terrorists in northern Iraq

REVISED HEADLINE, DECK; ADDS NEW STATEMENT FROM DEFENSE MINISTRY; EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Muhammed Nuri Erdogan and Jeyhun Aliyev

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey "neutralized" at least 10 PKK terrorists in air operations in northern Iraq, across the Turkish border, the National Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

Two terrorists were targeted in an operation in the Zap region, where they were planning an armed attack, the ministry said on Twitter.

Separately, the ministry said Turkish jets "neutralized" eight PKK terrorists in the Metina region who were also planning an attack.

The terrorists were found through cooperative reconnaissance and surveillance by the Turkish Armed Forces and National Intelligence Organization, it said, also sharing footage of the operations.

“Our operations will continue until the last terrorist is neutralized,” the statement said.

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

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

* Additional writing by Fahri Aksut