Turkish forces neutralize 3 terrorists in southeast

By Jeyhun Aliyev

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish security forces neutralized three PKK/KCK terrorists during the domestic operations in the country’s southeast, the Interior Ministry said on Tuesday.

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

The counter-terrorism operations in Sirnak province were supported by the provincial gendarmerie forces, local police department and the National Intelligence Service (MIT), the statement said.

Two of the neutralized terrorists were identified as Mahmut Tas -- code-named Andok and also the so-called person in charge of a group in the Mt. Cudi area of the province -- and Husnu Kaplan, code-named Adil from a terrorist PKK affiliate group Syria by Civil Protection Units (YPS) -- the so-called person in charge of Silopi district.

Security operations are still underway in the region, the statement added.

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