Turkey: 34 terrorists neutralized over past week

By Ilkay Guder and Yildiz Nevin Gundogmus

ANKARA (AA) - At least 34 terrorists were "neutralized" in southeastern Turkey and northern Iraq over the past week, the Turkish military said Friday.

The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) launched anti-terror operations in southeastern provinces of Diyarbakir and Mardin and northern Iraq between May 25-31, according to a statement on their website.

A so-called PKK leader was also "neutralized".

Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply that the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.

The army also destroyed 21 handmade explosives and 22 weapon pits and shelters.

Five Turkish soldiers were martyred and two others injured during the operations conducted over the week.

The forces said that 4,486 terrorists have been neutralized since the launch of the Operation Olive Branch in Syria's Afrin region in January.

Also, 54 soldiers were martyred in clashes against terrorists and 233 others injured in Afrin.

Separately, 226 mines and 1,208 hand made explosives were destroyed in Afrin.

On March 18, Turkish-backed troops liberated the town center of Afrin, which had been a major hideout for the YPG/PKK terror group since 2012.