Terrorists were attempting to attack Turkish soldiers, says National Defense Ministry
Turkish security forces "neutralized" 29 PKK/YPG terrorists in northern Syria, near the Turkish border, Türkiye's National Defense Ministry said on Friday.
The terrorists were attempting an attack, the ministry said on X.
"Wherever they may be, our fight against terrorist groups will continue until the last is neutralized!" the ministry vowed.
Turkish authorities use the term "neutralize" to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.
The terrorist PKK/YPG has sought to exploit the situation in post-Assad Syria to accelerate efforts to establish a “terrorist corridor” along the border with Türkiye.
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 the PKK's Syrian offshoot.
