ANKARA, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Turkish security forces killed two members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and caught another in northern Iraq, the Turkish Defense Ministry said Saturday.
The PKK members were "neutralized" during a clash in the Operation Claw-Lock zone, while a female militant was captured, said a ministry statement.
Turkish authorities often use the term "neutralized" in their statements to imply the "terrorists" in question were killed or captured, or surrendered.
The Turkish commandos detected a large arsenal belonging to the PKK group in a cave near Hasanava Creek during their search-and-arrest operations, the semi-official Anadolu Agency reported, quoting anonymous defense ministry sources.
Turkish forces called for air support to the area after intense clashes in the zone when the hiding PKK members opened fire on the commandos, according to the sources.
The commandos reportedly seized 15,400 rounds of anti-aircraft ammunition during their search in the cave where the clashes took place. According to the sources, the cave is one of the largest arsenals found in the zone so far.
In addition, M-16 and AK-47 rifles, along with many bullets, hand grenades, two action cameras, and thermal binoculars were seized, the Anadolu Agency reported.
In April last year, Türkiye launched Operation Claw-Lock in northern Iraq, targeting the PKK's hideouts in the Metina, Zap, and Avasin-Basyan regions near the Turkish border.
The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the United States and the European Union, has rebelled against the Turkish government for more than three decades. ■
