Turkey 'neutralizes' 3 terrorists in southeast

By Muhammed Boztepe

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish security forces “neutralized” three terrorists, including a senior one, in the southeastern provinces of Hakkari and Diyarbakir, the Interior Ministry said on Sunday.

In a statement, the ministry said that two terrorists were neutralized in an air-backed joint operation by forces of the Hakkari and Van gendarmerie.

Another terrorist, Ekrem Iptas, codenamed Seyit Batman, was neutralized in an air-backed operation in rural areas of Diyarbakir’s Lice district.

Iptas was wanted with a bounty of up to 1 million Turkish liras (roughly $150,000), added the statement.

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

No affiliation was given for the terrorists, but Turkey’s southeast has long seen attacks by the terrorist PKK

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