ADDS STATEMENT FROM NATIONAL DEFENSE MINISTRY; CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE
By Esra Tekin
ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkish security forces “neutralized” six PKK/YPG terrorists in northern Syria and northern Iraq, Türkiye’s National Defense Ministry said Wednesday.
“Our heroic Turkish Armed Forces neutralized four PKK/YPG terrorists who were preparing to launch an attack to disrupt the peace and security in the Olive Branch and Peace Spring zones in northern Syria,” the ministry said on X.
It said later that two PKK terrorists were “neutralized” in the Claw-Lock Operation zone in airstrikes in northern Iraq.
”Our fight against terrorism and terrorists will continue effectively and determined,” it said.
Turkish authorities use the term "neutralize" to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or 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).
Türkiye launched Operation Claw-Lock in April 2022 to target the PKK terror organization's hideouts in Iraq's northern Metina, Zap, and Avasin-Basyan regions near the Turkish border.
In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US, and EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children and infants. The YPG is PKK's Syrian branch.