ANKARA / ISTANBUL

At least 31 terrorists were "neutralized" in counterterrorism operations in northern Iraq and Syria over the past week, the Turkish National Defense Ministry announced Thursday.

A total of 308 terrorists have been neutralized since Jan. 1, 2025, the ministry spokesman, Zeki Akturk, told reporters at a briefing in the capital, Ankara.

Turkish authorities use the term "neutralize" to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.

Illegal crossings into Türkiye

Regarding illegal border crossings into Türkiye, Akturk said 106 people were apprehended while attempting to cross - three of whom were affiliated with terrorist organizations.

Another 1,573 people were prevented from crossing the border.

Akturk added that 614 people have been caught attempting illegal border crossings, while 8,181 have been stopped before crossing since Jan. 1.

Syrian army

The ministry sources also spoke about reports regarding the potential involvement of the terrorist organization PKK/PYD/YPG/SDF in the newly established Syrian army.

"We are closely monitoring developments in Syria. As we have stated before, the PKK/PYD/YPG/SDF terrorist organization must lay down its arms, its leaders and foreign members must leave Syria, and armed groups must join the national army under the Ministry of Defense as an equal part, without forming a separate structure within the army," the sources said.

"It is important to approach the reports in the press with caution and to focus on the implementation. Türkiye's stance on Syria's reconstruction and its efforts to establish stability and peace are clear," the sources added.