Turkish army 'neutralizes' 37 terrorists over past week

By Baris Gundogan

ANKARA

The Turkish army “neutralized” 37 PKK terrorists 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, Mardin and Agri provinces, as well as in regions of northern Iraq between Sept. 21-27.

The statement noted that 20 terrorists were neutralized on Turkish soil, while 17 others were neutralized in northern Iraq.

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 nearly 40,000 people, including women and children.