UPDATE - 4 terrorists 'neutralized' in southeastern Turkey

UPDATES WITH 2 MORE TERRORISTS NEUTRALIZED, CHANGES TITLE, DECK, LEDE

By Sertac Bulur

ANKARA (AA) – Turkish security forces "neutralized" four terrorists in southeastern Turkey, the Interior Ministry said on Friday.

The local gendarmerie commandos and special forces teams in the Mardin province joined the offensive neutralizing terrorists in the rural areas of Omerli district as part of the country’s domestic security operations, said a ministry statement.

Separately, two terrorists were neutralized in the Baykan district of southeastern Siirt province by the local gendarmerie commandos and special forces, the ministry said in a separate statement.

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

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

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

*Writing by Gozde Bayar