Turkey neutralizes 17 PKK/YPG terrorists in northern Syria

At least 17 YPG/PKK terrorists were “neutralized” by Turkish security forces in northern Syria, Turkey’s National Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

The terrorists were “neutralized” as they were preparing an attack in the Operation Euphrates Shield and Operation Peace Spring regions, it said on Twitter.

Turkish authorities use the term “neutralize” to imply the 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 the PKK’s Syrian offshoot.