HAKKARI, Turkey

At least 14 PKK terrorists have been “neutralized” in northern Iraq, a security source and the Turkish military said Thursday.

The terrorists were neutralized in Iraq’s Hakurk region while they were reportedly plotting to carry out an attack on Turkish military bases, according to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media.

They were spotted by military drones in Yuksekova in southeastern Hakkari province, the source added.

Later in the day, the Turkish General Staff said on its social media account that five terrorists were neutralized in northern Iraq’s Hakurk and Kani Rash regions.

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

The Turkish Armed Forces have neutralized 55 terrorists in northern Iraq since March 10.

Separately, a PKK terrorist was killed during a counter-terrorism operation in Turkey’s Batman province.

In Mersin province, security forces arrested a female terrorist following an intelligence tipoff.

In another counter-terrorism operation in Tunceli province, five suspects were arrested.

Nine terror suspects were also arrested in Van province, police said in a statement.

The suspects had been involved in a series of terror incidents such as damaging surveillance cameras in Ercis district, the statement added.

In Bursa province, a suspect who had been searched by police was arrested for being a member of the PKK/KCK terror group.

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