5 PKK terrorists neutralized in southeast Turkey

ANKARA

Turkish security forces "neutralized" five PKK terrorists during operations in the country's southeast, the country’s Interior Ministry said on Saturday.

Three terrorists were neutralized in an air-supported security operation launched by the provincial Gendarmerie Command and police in the Semdinli district of Hakkari province, the Interior Ministry said on Twitter.

Earlier, two terrorists were neutralized earlier in the Baykan district of the southeastern Siirt province by gendarmerie special forces, the ministry said in a separate statement.

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

Anti-terror operations are continuing in the region.

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 some 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.

PKK terrorists often use northern Iraq as a base to plan cross-border terrorist attacks on Turkey.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar