UPDATE - Turkey neutralizes 17 YPG/PKK terrorists in N.Syria

REVISED HEADLINE; UPDATE WITH MORE DETAILES

By Sarp Ozer

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish security forces "neutralized" 17 YPG/PKK terrorists in northern Syria, the Turkish National Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

The terrorists were neutralized by Turkish commandos amid an attempt to infiltrate the area liberated by Turkey’s Operation Peace Spring region, adjacent to Turkey’s southern border.

According to information from security sources, the Turkish Armed Forces learned of the impending attack when an unmanned aerial vehicle spotted terrorists digging tunnels.

After 14 terrorists were neutralized by mortar and howitzers, three more terrorists were found hiding in the area, they added.

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

Peace Spring -- launched in September 2019 -- was successful in ridding the operation region of terrorists, but there occasional attempts at attacks and infiltration continue.

Since 2016, Turkey has launched a trio of successful anti-terror operations across its border in northern Syria to prevent the formation of a terror corridor and to enable the peaceful settlement of residents: 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.