ISTANBUL 

Turkish security forces "neutralized" nine PKK terrorists in northern Iraq, the country's National Defense Ministry said on Friday.

The Turkish Armed Forces detected and "neutralized" the terrorists in Operation Claw-Lock zone in northern Iraq, the ministry said on X.

Turkish authorities use the term "neutralize" to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.

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

Terrorists often hide out in northern Iraq, just across the Turkish border, to plot terror attacks in Türkiye.

Türkiye in 2022 launched Operation Claw-Lock to target the terror group PKK's hideouts in northern Iraq's Metina, Zap, and Avasin-Basyan regions.​​​​​​​