ANKARA, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Turkish security forces killed nine members of the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in northern Syria, the Turkish defense ministry said on Monday.
"Nine PKK/YPG terrorists, seven of whom attempted to infiltrate into the area of Operation Peace Spring and two attempted to infiltrate into the area of Operation Euphrates Shield to disrupt peace and security, were neutralized," the ministry tweeted.
Turkish authorities often use the term "neutralized" in their statements to imply that the suspects surrendered, were killed or captured.
Turkey sees the YPG group as the Syrian branch of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The Turkish army has launched several operations in northern Syria to create a YPG-free zone along the border.
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
