UPDATE - Turkey neutralizes 8 PKK terrorists in N.Syria

UPDATES NUMBER OF NEUTRALIZED TERRORISTS; CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE

By Gozde Bayar

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish security forces neutralized a total of eight YPG/PKK terrorists in northern Syria, the Turkish National Defense Ministry said on Friday.

In a Twitter post, the ministry said three terrorists were trying to infiltrate the Operation Euphrates Shield zone, south of Turkey’s border.

“As in the [Operation] Peace Spring region, we will not allow any attacks and infiltration attempts in the [Operation] Euphrates Shield zone,” it said.

Separately, five more terrorists were trying to infiltrate the Operation Peace Spring zone, the ministry said on Twitter.

“Five YPG/PKK terrorists, attempting to infiltrate the region to disrupt peace and security, were neutralized by our heroic commandos," it added.

Turkish authorities 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-terror operations in northern Syria to prevent the formation of a terror corridor, and 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 the PKK's Syrian offshoot.