UPDATE - Turkey neutralizes 5 PKK terrorists in northern Iraq

UPDATES NUMBER OF TERRORISTS KILLED; REVISES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE

By Havva Kara Aydin and Sena Guler

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey neutralized five PKK terrorists during ongoing anti-terror operations in northern Iraq, the National Defense Ministry said on Saturday.

The ministry said three more terrorists were neutralized in air-backed operations in Iraq’s Gara region.

Earlier in the day, the ministry announced that two terrorists had been neutralized in the area as part of Operation Claw-Eagle 2.

The number of terrorists neutralized since the second phase of Operation Claw-Eagle started on Wednesday has now reached 42, the ministry said on Twitter.

Turkish authorities use the word “neutralized” to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.

Turkey's operations Claw-Tiger and Claw-Eagle were launched last June to ensure the safety of Turkish people and borders by eliminating the threat of the PKK and other terrorist groups that often use northern Iraq to plan cross-border attacks.

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 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.