Turkey ‘neutralizes’ 3 YPG/PKK terrorists in N. Syria

By Gozde Bayar

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish security forces “neutralized” at least three YPG/PKK terrorists in northern Syria, near the country's southern border, the National Defense Ministry said on Sunday.

"Our heroic commandos, who take all kinds of measures in the region, neutralized three YPG/PKK terrorists preventing another attempt to attack,” the ministry said on Twitter.

It added that they will not allow terrorists to disturb peace and security in the Operation Peace Spring zone.

Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralize" to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.

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 PKK’s Syrian offshoot.