Turkish army neutralizes three PKK militants in northern Iraq
Turkish soldiers
Ankara (IraqiNews.com) – Turkish jets “neutralized” three PKK militants in northern Iraq, the Turkish Defense Ministry said on Monday.
Turkish authorities often use the word “neutralized” in statements to imply the militants in question surrendered or were killed or captured.
The PKK fighters were neutralized in the Gara region during a joint operation of Turkish Armed Forces and the National Intelligence Service (MIT), the ministry said on Twitter.
PKK militants often use northern Iraq as a base to plan cross-border terrorist attacks on Turkey.
On May 27, Turkey launched Operation Claw against the PKK in the Hakurk region of northern Iraq.
In mid-July and late August, Turkey also launched Operation Claw-2 and Operation Claw-3 in northern Iraq with the same purpose.
The ongoing offensives have neutralized dozens of terrorists so far.
In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK — listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU — has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants. The terrorist YPG is the PKK’s Syrian branch.