ANKARA

At least three terrorists were neutralized in an anti-terror operation in eastern Turkey, the country's Interior Ministry said on Saturday.

In a statement, the ministry said the terrorists, along with their weapons, were neutralized under the air-backed Operation Eren-1 in a rural area in the Baskale district of Van province.

Though the ministry did not name any specific group, Turkish forces have been conducting operations against the PKK terror organization in the region.

Launched in January, the anti-terror Operation Eren is named after Eren Bulbul, a 15-year-old killed by PKK terrorists on Aug. 11, 2017.

In its more than 35-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 at least 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.

*Contributions and writing by Sena Guler