UPDATE - 3 soldiers martyred in Op Peace Spring in Syria

ADDS SNA SOLDIERS MARTYRED; REVISED HEADLINE, SPOT, AND THROUGHOUT

By Adham Kako

ANKARA (AA) - Three soldiers in Turkey’s anti-terrorist operation in northern Syria were killed in clashes with PKK/YPG terrorists on Friday.

One Turkish soldier was martyred in terrorist clashes in Operation Peace Spring, Turkey's National Defense Ministry announced.

In a statement, the ministry offered its condolences to the soldier's family and the Turkish nation.

Two Syrian National Army (SNA) soldiers supporting the Turkish operation were also martyred.

According to information from the SNA, one soldier was killed in Tell Abyad and the other in Ras al-Ayn. Nine SNA soldiers were also injured.

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 elements from the PKK and its Syrian offshoot, the PYD/YPG.

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.

*Reported by Omer Koparan, Adham Kako, Levent Tok, Burak Karacaoglu, Esref Musa. Writing by Dilara Hamit