Turkish army 'neutralizes' 23 YPG/PKK terrorists

By Fatih Hafiz Mehmet

ANKARA (AA) - At least 23 YPG/PKK terrorists have been "neutralized" after terrorists attacked a guardhouse in southeastern Sanliurfa province, according to Turkish General Staff Tuesday.

Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.

In a statement, Turkish General Staff said "PKK/PYD-YPG" terrorists launched a gun-and-rocket attack on a Turkish military border guardhouse in Sanliurfa's Ceylanpinar district near the Syrian border to which the Turkish military retaliated.

Also, a YPG/PKK terrorist who escaped from their shelters in Syria surrendered to Turkish authorities in southeastern Mardin's Nusaybin district, the statement added.

On Jan. 20, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to clear YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin, northwestern Syria.

PYD/YPG is the Syrian offshoot of the PKK terrorist organization that has waged a more than 30-year war against Turkey.

More than 1,200 people, including security force personnel and civilians, have lost their lives since the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and EU -- resumed its decades-old armed campaign in July 2015.