Türkiye ‘neutralizes’ 9 PKK/YPG terrorists in northern Syria

By Gozde Bayar

Turkish security forces “neutralized” nine PKK/YPG terrorists in northern Syria, the Turkish National Defense Ministry said on Saturday.

This came as 12 terrorists attempted to infiltrate Operation Peace Spring zone, the Ministry said on X.

“Last night, terrorists who were preparing to attack and tried to infiltrate the (Operation) Peace Spring region were intervened with fire support tools and nine PKK/YPG terrorists were neutralized,” it added.

Turkish authorities use the term “neutralized” 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).

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 offshoot.