14 PKK militants ‘neutralized’ in Turkish Army air operation in northern Iraq, military says
ANKARA
A total of 14 outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants were “neutralized” during an air operation on April 5 in northern Iraq, the Turkish Armed Forces stated on April 6.
The General Staff statement also said 13 targets, namely shelters used by the PKK, were destroyed in the Qandil region of northern Iraq.
In a separate statement issued on April 6, the Turkish army stated that a total of 59 PKK militants had been “neutralized” in three airstrikes in northern Iraq’s Hakurk and Zap regions as part of counterterrorism operations on April 1 and 2.
Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry stated on April 2 that at least 61 PKK militants were “neutralized” during counter-terrorism operations across Turkey from March 26 to April 2.
The Turkish authorities often use the word “neutralized” in their statements to imply that the militants in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.
