Turkey says 352 terrorists 'neutralized' in Syria, N.Iraq in past 6 weeks

MUGLA, Turkey

Turkey "neutralized" 352 terrorists in Syria and northern Iraq in the past six weeks as part of its cross-border operations, the country's defense chief said.

The terrorists were neutralized during ongoing Pence-Simsek and Pence-Yildirim operations which were launched on April 23, said National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, who met military personnel at a dinner in the southwestern Mugla province on Saturday.

Akar also said 1,212 terrorists have been neutralized so far this year.

Operations Pence-Simsek and Pence-Yildirim launched in northern Iraq are ongoing successfully as planned, he added.

Turkish forces continue to destroy shelters of terrorists, he said.

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

The terrorist group PKK often uses bases in northern Iraq, just across Turkey's southern border, to hide out and plot terror attacks in Turkey.

In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and the EU – has been responsible for the deaths of at least 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.