Turkey arrests 5 YPG/PKK terrorists in northern Syria

By Ozcan Yildirim

ANKARA (AA) – Turkish security forces arrested five YPG/PKK terrorists in northern Syria, near the country's southern border, the National Defense Ministry said on Saturday.

The ministry said in a statement that the terrorists were arrested in the Operation Olive Branch zone, where Turkey carried out a counter-terror operation.

Turkish troops are in the region as part of cross-border security and counter-terrorism initiative.

Since 2016, Turkey has launched a trio of successful anti-terrorist operations across its border in northern Syria to prevent the formation of a terror corridor and enable peaceful settlement by locals: Euphrates Shield (2016), Olive Branch (2018) and Peace Spring (2019).

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