The Turkish air force "neutralized" at least 6 Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants on Sunday in northern Iraq, the military said on Monday.

The militants were "neutralized" by airstrikes carried out in Zap, Sinat-Haftanin and Hakurk regions, the National Defense Military said in its Twitter account.

The Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralize" to imply that the militants in question surrendered, were killed or captured.

These armed militants were plotting attacks on Turkish military bases, the military said.

Turkish jets also destroyed shelters and depots of the militants during the operation.

Meanwhile, Turkish security forces have seized 150 kg of explosives during an operation against the PKK in southeastern Mardin province, local media reported on Monday.

The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union, has been striving for the establishment of an independent Kurdish state by armed rebellion since the 1970s.