Turkish operation liberates 42 Syrian villages from PKK

By Omer Koparan, Burak Karacaoglu, Mohamad Misto, Adham Kako, Esref Musa and Levent Tok

TAL ABYAD/RAS AL-AYN, Syria (AA) - The number of villages in northern Syria liberated from the terrorist group YPG/PKK by Turkey’s Operation Peace Spring rose to 42 on Sunday.

With this latest figure, the Tal Abyad and Ras Al-Ayn districts were declared cleared of terrorists.

Turkey-backed Syrian National Army(SNA) is combing the areas to ensure safety.

As Turkey's operations continue successfully, 24 terrorists surrendered to Turkish security forces, according to reliable local sources.

Turkey on Wednesday launched Operation Peace Spring east of the Euphrates River in northern Syria to secure its borders by eliminating terrorist elements and to ensure the safe return of Syrian refugees and Syria’s territorial integrity.

Ankara wants to eliminate terrorist group PKK and its Syrian offshoot, the PYD-YPG from the region.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union -- has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.