Türkiye ‘neutralizes’ 16 PKK/YPG terrorists in northern Iraq, Syria

By Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA) – Turkish security forces “neutralized” a total of 16 PKK/YPG terrorists in northern Iraq and Syria, the National Defense Ministry said on Friday.

As many as 10 PKK terrorists were targeted in the Gara and Hakurk regions of northern Iraq, while the other six PKK/YPG terrorists were killed in the zones of operations Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch in northern Syria, the ministry said on X.

The ministry expressed Ankara’s persistence on the fight against terrorism, “until the last terrorist is neutralized!”

“There is no escape from the end that awaits the terrorists!” it added.

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

Türkiye in 2022 launched Operation Claw-Lock to target the terror group's hideouts in northern Iraq's Metina, Zap, and Avasin-Basyan regions.

In northern Syria, Ankara has launched a trio of successful anti-terror operations since 2016 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 40-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 over 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants. The YPG is PKK's Syrian offshoot.