ANKARA

Turkish security forces have neutralized a total of 15 PKK terrorists in the cross-border Operation Claw 3 in northern Iraq, said the country's Defense Ministry said on Sunday.

The ministry said on Twitter that six additional terrorists had been neutralized amid the anti-terror operation.

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

Turkey launched on Friday Operation Claw 3 in the Sinat-Haftanin region in northern Iraq.

The operation was launched to facilitate border security, neutralize terrorists, destroy caves and shelters in the area.

On May 27, Turkey launched Operation Claw against the PKK in the Hakurk region of northern Iraq. The ongoing offensive has neutralized dozens of terrorists so far.

PKK terrorists often use northern Iraq as a base to plan cross-border terrorist attacks on Turkey.

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 some 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.