ANKARA 

Turkish army “neutralized” four more PKK terrorists in northern Iraq, increasing the number of terrorists neutralized in Operation Claw to 68, the Turkish National Defense Ministry said on Sunday.   

Turkish security forces also destroyed weapon emplacements and shelters used by PKK terrorists in the Operation Claw-2 area, the ministry said in a statement.

Authorities often use the term “neutralized" in statements to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.

On May 27, Turkey launched Operation Claw against the PKK in the Hakurk region of northern Iraq.

On Saturday, Turkey launched counter-terror Operation Claw-2 as a follow-up on the successfully ongoing Claw-1 operation in Hakurk area which revealed new information on terrorist activity, according to the ministry. 

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 some 40,000 people, including women and children.