ANKARA 

Turkish forces neutralized 12 PKK terrorists as part of a counter-terrorism operation in northern Iraq, the National Defense Ministry said Saturday.

“As a result of PKK’s harassment fire to our military base in northern Iraq, Haftanin region, one Turkish solider was martyred, three of our soldiers were wounded in the heinous attack. 12 PKK terrorists have been neutralized in the region,” said the ministry on Twitter.

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

PKK terrorists often take shelter in northern Iraq to plan cross-border terrorist attacks

Read more: Turkey 'neutralizes' 12 PKK terrorists in N. Iraq