UPDATE- 3 terrorists 'neutralized' in southeastern Turkey

UPDATES WITH DETAILS

By Cankut Tasdan

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish security forces "neutralized" at least three terrorists in the southeastern Mardin province, the Interior Ministry said Monday.

The armed terrorists were targeted in an air-backed operation by the provincial gendarmerie command in rural areas of the Dargecit district as part of Operation Yildirim-8, the ministry said in a statement.

The operation continues in the region, it added.

In a separate statement, the ministry said one of the terrorists has been identified as a wanted terrorist listed in the Interior Ministry's grey category.

Terrorist M.O., codenamed Reber, is the terrorist group's so-called senior leader of the Dargecit district in Mardin, it added.

The ministry's wanted list is divided into five color codes: red as the most wanted, followed by blue, green, orange, and grey.

The statement did not specify the terrorists' affiliation, but the YPG/PKK terrorist group has been active in eastern and southeastern Turkey.

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

This summer, Turkey launched a series of security operations to neutralize terrorists believed to be hiding in the east and southeast.

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.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar and Merve Aydogan