Turkey neutralizes 8 terrorist in air-backed operation

Turkish Interior Ministry on Thursday announced on Twitter that the provincial gendarmerie command in eastern Agri province neutralized 8 terrorists.

Terrorists were seized with their weapons in the air-backed operation within the scope of internal security operations.

The ministry announced the operations would continue in the region.

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

Over 400 PKK terrorists have been "neutralized" in northern Iraq over the past four months, 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 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.