4 targeted in Syria, 1 in Iraq, says National Defense Ministry
Turkish security forces "neutralized" five PKK terrorists in northern regions of Syria and Iraq, across Turkey's border, authorities said Monday.
Four YPG/PKK terrorists were neutralized after they opened harassing fire on the Operation Peace Spring zone in northern Syria, the National Defense Ministry said on Twitter.
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).
Meanwhile, a Turkish airstrike neutralized one PKK terrorist in Operation Pence-Kaplan zone in northern Iraq, the ministry added.
PKK terrorists often hide out in northern Iraq, across Turkey's southern border, to plan terrorist attacks in Turkey.
The Pence operations are a series of offensives Turkey has carried out since 2019 against terrorist groups in northern Iraq, particularly the PKK.
Operations Pence-Kaplan and Pence-Kartal were initiated in June 2020 in Sinjar, Qandil, Haftanin, and Zap regions, while Pence-Simsek and Pence-Yildirim were launched last April in Metina and Avasin-Basyan regions.
Turkish authorities use the term "neutralize" to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.
In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and EU – has been responsible for the deaths of at least 40,000 people, including women, children and infants. The YPG is the PKK's Syrian offshoot.
