ANKARA

Turkey's Interior Ministry announced Friday it has begun Operation Kiran-5 with 2,625 personnel and 179 units in the eastern part of the country. 

The statement said the operation will be carried out in the countryside of Diyarbakir, Bingol and Mus provinces to neutralize terrorists in the region.

Over 400 PKK terrorists were "neutralized" in northern Iraq over the past four months, according to the ministry.

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

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