UPDATE 2 - Turkey 'neutralizes' 37 PKK terrorists in northern Iraq

UPDATES WITH NEUTRALIZATION OF ONE MORE SENIOR TERRORIST; CHANGES LEDE

By Sarp Ozer and Ahmet Sertan Usul

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish security forces "neutralized" a total of 37 PKK terrorists, including three senior terrorists, as part of its anti-terror operation in northern Iraq, the National Defense Ministry said on Friday.

The terrorists were "neutralized" during Operation Claw-Eagle 2, launched on Wednesday in the Gara region.

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

Earlier, the ministry said Turkish security forces destroyed more than 50 terror targets during the campaign, as well.

Turkey launched Operation Claw-Eagle 2 in line with its right to self-defense arising from international law to prevent the PKK/KCK's and other terror groups' efforts to re-establish their positions used to carry out terrorist attacks against Turkey. The operation is successfully going on, the ministry said.

With more than 40 jets, unmanned aerial vehicles, tanker aircrafts, and early warning and control aircrafts joining the operation, terrorists' ammunition depots, caves and bases in Gara were destroyed.

The ministry stressed that the operation was carried out in coordination with friendly and allied countries, the targets were carefully chosen, and maximum care was paid for the protection of the life and property of the civilian population as well as the environment when the operation was planned and carried out.

PKK terrorists often use northern Iraq as a base to plan cross-border terrorist attacks on Turkey.

Turkey's operations Claw-Tiger and Claw-Eagle were launched last June to ensure the safety of Turkish people and borders by neutralizing 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 EU – has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.

*Writing by Burak Bir, Burak Dag and Gozde Bayar