Türkiye ‘neutralizes’ 17 terrorists in northern Iraq, Syria

By Yasin Gungor

ISTANBUL (AA) – Turkish security forces "neutralized" 17 terrorists in northern Iraq and Syria, the National Defense Ministry said on Monday.

The Turkish Armed Forces have “neutralized” 14 PKK terrorists in the Metina and Gara regions in northern Iraq and 3 PKK/YPG terrorists in the operation Peace Spring region in northern Syria, said the ministry.

“There is nowhere to escape for terrorists, nowhere is safe for them,” it added.

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

Ankara has launched a trio of successful anti-terror operations since 2016 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 nearly 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.