UPDATE - Türkiye ‘neutralizes’ 5 PKK terrorists in northern Iraq

UPDATES WITH MORE TERRORISTS NEUTRALIZED; CHANGES HEADLINE, LEDE

By Burak Dag and Busra Nur Cakmak

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish security forces have "neutralized" a total of five PKK terrorists in northern Iraq, the National Defense Ministry said on Saturday.

At first, the ministry announced neutralizing three terrorists in the Operation Claw-Lock zone. "We are determined to eradicate terrorism at its source," it added.

Two more terrorists were later neutralized in the same region, the ministry said in another statement.

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

PKK terrorists have hideouts in northern Iraq, across the Turkish border, which they use to plot attacks on Türkiye.

Türkiye launched Operation Claw-Lock last April to target the terrorist group PKK's hideouts in the Metina, Zap, and Avasin-Basyan regions.

It came after operations Claw-Tiger and Claw-Eagle – launched in 2020 to root out the terrorists.

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