ANKARA

Turkish forces on Tuesday neutralized four YPG/PKK terrorists, including one senior member of the terror group, in northern Syria, according to Turkey's National Defense Ministry. 

“Four PKK/YPG terrorists, one of whom was in the Qandil Staff, were neutralized by our heroic commandos in the [Operation] Olive Branch region,” the ministry said on Twitter, referring to the terror group's headquarters in the Mt. Qandil region of northern Iraq.

Turkish authorities often use the word “neutralize” to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.

Since 2016, Turkey 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).

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and the EU – has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants. The YPG is the PKK’s Syrian offshoot.