Terror attack kills Turkish soldier in northern Syria

By Ahmet Gencturk and Sarp Ozer

ANKARA (AA) - A Turkish soldier was killed in a terror attack in northern Syria, Turkey’s National Defense Ministry said Thursday.

The attack occurred in the vicinity of Operation Euphrates Shield operations and killed specialist Tayfun Ozkose of the Turkish Marine Brigade, the ministry said in a statement.

It extended condolences to Yigit’s family and the Turkish nation.

National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar announced that five PKK terrorists were neutralized when the Turkish Armed Forces immediately responded to the attack.

Operations are ongoing and the number of neutralized terrorists can increase, he said.

Akar also said 2,136 PKK terrorists have been neutralized since the beginning of 2021 in Turkey's war on terror that has been continuous for the last 40 years.

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

Since 2016, Ankara has launched a trio of successful anti-terror operations across its border 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 35-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 at least 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants. The YPG is PKK's Syrian offshoot.