ANKARA, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Turkish intelligence has "neutralized" a senior member of the special forces of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in a cross-border operation in northern Iraq, semi-official Anadolu Agency reported Friday.

Murat Keles, known as "Berhudan Harun" and wanted in Türkiye on terrorism charges, was targeted by the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) in the northern Hakurk region of Iraq, Anadolu quoted anonymous security sources, without specifying the timeframe of the operation.

MIT identified Keles as one of the key figures behind multiple rocket attacks on Turkish security forces in 2016 in Türkiye's southern Sirnak province, which borders Iraq and Syria.

The Turkish intelligence also accused Keles of coordinating shipments of explosives to western metropolitan cities in Türkiye for planned attacks, sources added.

Additionally, the Turkish Defense Ministry said Friday that eight PKK members were "neutralized" in the Asos region of northern Iraq.

The PKK, designated a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the United States, and the European Union, has waged a decades-long insurgency against the Turkish state. Türkiye frequently carries out military operations in northern Iraq, where the PKK has bases.

Turkish authorities often use the term "neutralize" in their statements to imply the alleged terrorists have either surrendered, been killed, or been captured. Enditem

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