Turkish jets neutralize 19 terrorists in N. Iraq

By Ozcan Yildirim

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish warplanes have "neutralized" 19 terrorists in northern Iraq as part of an anti-terror operation, the military said on Tuesday.

In a post on Twitter, the Turkish Armed Forces said the airstrikes were conducted in Zap, Hakurk, Sinath-Haftanin and Avasin-Basyan regions of northern Iraq on Tuesday.

"Nineteen separatist terrorists were neutralized during the airstrikes bringing the total number of terrorists neutralized in the last four days to 57," the statement added.

Turkish airstrikes in this region generally target PKK terrorists.

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