ANKARA

Turkish intelligence on Wednesday released footage of the moments when a terrorist ringleader was neutralized in northern Iraq.

The National Intelligence Organization (MIT) tracked a white pickup truck carrying Rojda Bilen, the so-called "youth group women's general coordinator" of the terrorist group PKK, in a rural area of the Sulaymaniyah province, according to security sources.

The footage shows the moment when the vehicle was hit by an armed unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) and Bilen, codenamed Biseng Brusk, was neutralized.

PKK terrorists often hide out in northern Iraq to plot cross-border attacks in Türkiye

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

In its more than 35-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.​​​​​​​

*Writing by Zehra Nur Duz.