UPDATE – 5 terrorists ‘neutralized’ in northern Iraq, SE Turkey

CHANGES TITLE, DECK, LEDE; ADDS NEUTRALIZATION OF 3 TERRORISTS IN TURKEY

By Merve Aydogan and Sertac Bulur

ANKARA (AA) – Five terrorists were neutralized by Turkish security operations as part of counter-terrorism efforts at home and near the border, Turkish officials said on Tuesday.

At least two YPG/PKK terrorists were neutralized by Turkish security forces in northern Iraq, across the Turkish border, Turkey’s National Defense Ministry said.

The terrorists were neutralized in the Operation Pence-Simsek region in northern Iraq, the ministry said on Twitter.

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

The Pence operations are a series of offensives Turkey has been carrying out since 2019 against terrorist groups in northern Iraq, particularly the PKK.

The latest ones are the Pence-Simsek and Pence-Yildirim operations launched on April 23 in the Metina and Avasin-Basyan regions near the Turkish-Iraqi border.

The PKK terror group often hides out in northern Iraq, just across Turkey's southern border, to plot terror attacks in Turkey.

The Interior Ministry also announced that three armed terrorists, whose affiliation was not specified, were neutralized in the southeastern Sirnak province as part of Eren-13 operations.

The ministry said in a statement that aerial elements supported the operation, which is still ongoing.

Operation Eren, named after Eren Bulbul, a 15-year-old killed by the terrorist PKK in 2017, began in January to eliminate terrorism in the country.

In its over 35-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 at least 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.

*Writing by Ali Murat Alhas