By Ali Kemal Akan

ANKARA

At least 23 terrorists have been killed in northern Iraq over the last week, the military said Friday.

In a statement, the Turkish General Staff said 23 terrorists were killed during anti-PKK operations in northern parts of Iraq between May 10 and May 17.

During the operations, seven shelters used by the PKK were destroyed while 49 improvised explosives were defused.

A Turkish soldier was martyred and five others injured during the operations.

Meanwhile, 7,211 people were held while trying to illegally cross the Turkish border.

The Turkish army recently set up its 12th observation point in Syria's northwestern Idlib province since Oct. 13, 2017.

At least 4,464 terrorists have been "neutralized" since the launch of Operation Olive Branch in Syria.

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

On Jan. 20, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to clear YPG/PKK-Daesh terrorists from Afrin, northwestern Syria.

According to the Turkish General Staff, the operation aims to establish security and stability along Turkey’s borders and the region as well as to protect Syrians from the oppression and cruelty of terrorists.

The operation is being carried out under the framework of Turkey's rights based on international law, UN Security Council resolutions, its self-defense rights under the UN charter, and respect for Syria's territorial integrity, it said.