UPDATE - Turkey neutralizes 7 YPG/PKK terrorists in northern Iraq

UPDATES NUMBER OF NEUTRALIZED TERRORISTS; ADDS DETAILS; REVISES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE

By Gozde Bayar

ANKARA (AA) – Seven YPG/PKK terrorists were neutralized by Turkish forces in northern Iraq, Turkey’s National Defense Ministry said on Friday.

Four terrorists were neutralized by fire support vehicles in the Operation Pence-Simsek region in northern Iraq, the ministry said on Twitter.

Three more were neutralized in the Gara region, the ministry said, adding that anti-terror operations continue in northern Iraq.

Turkish authorities often use the word “neutralized” in statements to imply 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 organizations 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 country’s borders.

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

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. The YPG is the PKK’s Syrian offshoot.