Turkey neutralizes 58 PKK terrorists in north Iraq

ANKARA

Turkey’s security forces have neutralized a total of 58 terrorists as part of the ongoing Operation Claw in northern Iraq, the Defense Ministry said on Sunday.

In an earlier statement, the National Defense Ministry said on Twitter that a total of 57 terrorists had been neutralized in the Hakurk region over the last four weeks during the Operation Claw, which was launched on May 27 by the Turkish Armed Forces against the PKK terror group.

After neutralizing another PKK terrorist, the Defense Ministry updated the statement, bringing the neutralized toll to 58 from 57.

The ministry said a total of 96 terrorists, including those in Operation Claw, were "neutralized” in northern Iraq during the same period.

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

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 many women and children.