UPDATE - Turkiye 'neutralizes' 5 PKK terrorists in northern Iraq

UPDATES NUMBER OF TERRORISTS NEUTRALIZED; REVISES DECK

By Jeyhun Aliyev

ANKARA (AA) – A Turkish airstrike "neutralized" five PKK terrorists in northern Iraq, in a region near the Turkish border, the National Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.

Three of the terrorists were neutralized by an armed drone in the Gara region in a joint operation by Turkiye's National Intelligence Organization and the military, the ministry said on Twitter.

"We continue razing terror dens in northern Iraq to the ground," it added.

PKK terrorists often use the northern Iraqi border region to hide out and plot attacks.

In a separate statement, the ministry said two more terrorists were “neutralized” in the Gara region, bringing the number of terrorists neutralized to five.

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

In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Turkiye, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the US, and European Union – has been responsible for the deaths of at least 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.