ANKARA, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Turkish security forces killed five members of the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in northern Syria, and two members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in northern Iraq, Turkey's Defense Ministry said on Saturday.
"Two PKK terrorists have been neutralized in Avasin region in an airstrike after they were determined by means of reconnaissance and surveillance. Our operations continue until the last terrorist is neutralized," said the ministry in its Twitter account.
Turkish authorities often use the term "neutralize" in statements to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.
In a separate statement, the Defense Ministry also said that the Turkish commandos "neutralized" five members of the YPG in northern Syria as they were trying to "infiltrate into the region of Peace Spring aiming to destroy peace and security environment."
Turkish security forces have long been conducting operations against the PKK in southeastern Turkey and in northern Iraq where the group has hideouts. These operations are intensified in the past few months. PKK members often use northern Iraq to launch cross-border attacks in Turkey.
Turkey sees the YPG group as the Syrian branch of the PKK. The Turkish army launched Operation Euphrates Shield in 2016, Operation Olive Branch in 2018, Operation Peace Spring in 2019, and Operation Spring Shield in 2020 in northern Syria in order to create a YPG-free zone along its border within the neighboring country.
The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the EU, has been rebelling against the Turkish government for over 30 years, which has claimed the lives of more than 40,000 people. Enditem
