Turkey destroys 40 mines, 227 explosives in N. Syria

Turkish security forces have destroyed 40 mines and 227 improvised explosives in its anti-terror operation in northern Syria, the country’s National Defense Ministry said on Thursday.

The ministry is also working with the Russian officials on mechanisms for the implementation of the Sochi agreement, Lt. Cmdr. Nadide Sebnem Aktop, ministry spokeswoman, told reporters in capital Ankara.

"Loaves of bread prepared in the oven set up by the Turkish Armed Forces in Tal Abyad, were distributed among local people in the region and health support were also provided to them at the first aid station,” Aktop said.

On Oct. 9, Turkey launched Operation Peace Spring to eliminate terrorists from northern Syria east of the Euphrates River in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees, and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.

On Tuesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin held a meeting in Russia's Black Sea resort town of Sochi.

Ankara and Moscow reached a deal under which YPG/PKK terrorists will pull back 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) south of Turkey’s border with northern Syria within 150 hours and security forces from Turkey and Russia will conduct joint patrols there.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union -- has been responsible for deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants. The YPG is the Syrian offshoot of the PKK.