ANKARA

Turkish security forces “neutralized” three terrorists in the country’s eastern Bitlis province, the Interior Ministry said on Tuesday.

The armed terrorists were neutralized as part of the country’s ongoing anti-terror operation, the ministry said in a statement.

The air-backed operation was carried out in the Sehi district, it added.

The statement did not specify the terrorists' affiliation, but the PKK terror group has been active in eastern and southeastern Turkey.

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

Turkey conducted Operations Kapan and Yildirim in 2020 with the aim of eliminating the separatist terrorist organization, and exterminate the terrorists present in the region.

The Turkish Interior Ministry on Tuesday announced the start of a new operation called Eren in the east of the country as part of the fight against terrorism.

Operation Eren, named after Eren Bulbul, a 15-year-old martyred by the terrorist PKK on Aug. 11, 2017, commenced with the start of 2021, and aims at eliminating terrorism from the country completely, it said in a statement.

In its more than 30-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 over 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.

* Writing by Gozde Bayar