Turkish army 'neutralizes' 56 terrorists over past week

By Orhan Onur Gemici

ANKARA

The Turkish army “neutralized” 56 PKK terrorists, including three senior members, on Turkish soil and in northern Iraq over the past week, the military said on Friday.

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

In a weekly statement, the Turkish General Staff said the army conducted anti-terror operations in Turkey’s southeastern Sirnak, Siirt, Diyarbakir and Agri provinces, as well as in regions of northern Iraq between Sept. 14-20.

The statement noted that 21 terrorists, including three so-called leaders of the terror group, were neutralized on Turkish soil, while 35 others in northern Iraq.

The PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- resumed its armed campaign against Turkey in July 2015.

Since then, it has been responsible for the deaths of more than 1,200 Turkish security personnel and civilians, including many women and children.