Selen Temizer
17 October 2019•Update: 18 October 2019
TAL ABYAD/RAS AL-AYN, Syria
At least 18 Syrian National Army (SNA) soldiers were martyred on Wednesday, putting the number of total martyrs at 64, during in Turkey's anti-terror operation in northern Syria since its launch last week.
The SNA forces is composed of various opposition groups fighting against the Bashar al-Assad regime of Syria, fighting alongside Turkish forces against YPG/PKK terrorists as part of the anti-terror operation.
A total of 187 SNA soldiers have also been injured during Operation Peace Spring which was launched on Oct. 9 to eliminate YPG/PKK terrorists from northern Syria in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees, and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.
Clashes with the YPG/PKK terrorists are ongoing as the counter-terrorism operation is underway in various locations in the Tal Abyad and Ras al-Ayn districts on the Syria-Turkey border.
A total of 673 YPG/PKK terrorists have been neutralized.
The operation has cleared two district centers, a town and tens of villages of the YPG/PKK terrorists so far.
Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.
Ankara wants to clear northern Syria east of the Euphrates River of the terrorist 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 deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.
*Writing by Mahmoud Barakat
