ANKARA

Turkish security forces neutralized two PKK terrorists in an air-backed operation in northern Iraq, country's National Defense Ministry said on Thursday.

The ministry said on Twitter the counter-terrorism operations will continue without letup.

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

Northern Iraq is a known base of the terrorist YPG/PKK, used by its members to plan cross-border terrorist attacks against Turkey.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and EU -- has been responsible for deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants. The YPG is the PKK's Syrian offshoot.