Turkey 'neutralizes' 3 PKK terrorists in northern Iraq

By Merve Aydogan

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish security forces "neutralized" at least three PKK terrorists in northern Iraq, the National Defense Ministry said on Saturday.

The terrorists were targeted in the Operations Pence-Simsek and Pence-Kaplan zones, the ministry said on Twitter.

Turkish authorities use the word "neutralize" to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.

PKK terrorists often hide out in northern Iraq, across Turkey’s southern border, to plan terrorist attacks in Turkey.

The Pence operations are a series of offensives Turkey has carried out since 2019 against terrorist organizations in northern Iraq, particularly the PKK.

Operations Pence-Kaplan and Pence-Kartal were initiated in June last year, while Pence-Simsek and Pence-Yildirim were launched this April in Iraq's Metina and Avasin-Basyan regions.

In its more than 35-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 over 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.