Turkey 'neutralizes' 17 PKK militants over past week

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

At least 17 PKK militants have been "neutralized" in counterterrorism operations across Turkey over the past week, the Defense Ministry said on Nov. 9.

Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply that the militants in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.

In a statement, the ministry said the anti-terror operations were conducted between Nov. 2- 8 in the eastern and southeastern Turkish provinces of Tunceli, Muş, Diyarbakır and Hakkari as well as in northern Iraq.

During the operations, 71 shelters and 33 improvised explosives and mines were destroyed, while security forces seized 19 hand grenades, 24,250 kilograms of explosive materials, 109 kg of ammonium nitrate, seven guns and 14 rounds of rocket launcher ammunition.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.