289 civilians victims of YPG/PKK since October: Turkey

By Sena Guler

ANKARA (AA) - The terror group YPG/PKK killed at least 45 civilians and injured 244 others since early October -- when Turkey's anti-terror operation started in northern Syria -- in and outside Turkey, the country’s National Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.

"Since Oct. 9, the YPG/PKK terrorists’ car bombing attacks directly targeting civilians in Operation Peace Spring area, killed 23 civilians, and injured 55 others,” the ministry said on Twitter, referring to Turkey’s latest anti-terror operation in northern Syria.

It added: "Twenty-two innocent citizens were also killed in domestic mortar/rocket attacks, while 189 others were injured."

The ministry said activities to establish a safe zone east of the Euphrates River in Syria are ongoing in compliance with Oct. 17 and Oct. 22 deals reached respectively with the U.S. and Russia.

Turkey on Oct. 9 launched Operation Peace Spring to eliminate YPG/PKK terrorists from northern Syria east of the Euphrates River in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees, and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.

Under the two separate deals reached with the U.S. and Russia, Turkey paused the operation to allow the withdrawal of YPG/PKK terrorists from the planned Syria safe zone.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants. The YPG is the PKK's Syrian offshoot.