Turkey neutralizes 32 YPG/PKK terrorists in N. Syria

By Burak Bir

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish security forces neutralized 32 YPG/PKK terrorists in northern Syria, the National Defense Ministry said on Monday.

The terrorists attempted to infiltrate into the southern area of Operation Peace Spring, Turkey's anti-terror offensive in northern Syria, the Turkish ministry said on Twitter.

Operation Peace Spring was launched last October to eliminate terrorist YPG/PKK east of the Euphrates River to secure Turkey’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees, and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.

Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" 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 into northern Syria to prevent the formation of a terror corridor and enable peaceful settlement by locals: Operations Euphrates Shield (2016), Olive Branch (2018), and Peace Spring (2019).

Separately, Turkey announced on Sunday a new offensive in northwestern Syria, Operation Spring Shield. It came after at least 34 Turkish soldiers were martyred and dozens injured in an Assad regime airstrike in the Idlib de-escalation zone, just across Turkey’s southern border.

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 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants. The YPG is the PKK’s Syrian offshoot.