ANKARA

Türkiye “neutralized” 39 PKK/YPG terrorists in counter-terror operation zones in northern Syria and Iraq, the National Defense Ministry said Thursday.

The terrorists, who opened harassing fire on Turkish soldiers, were targeted in Peace Spring, Olive Branch, and Euphrates Shield operations zones, according to the ministry.

Since 2016, Ankara 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).

Meanwhile, 10 more PKK terrorists were neutralized by the Turkish soldiers in Operation Claw-Lock zone in northern Iraq.

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

Türkiye launched Operation Claw-Lock in April to target the PKK terror organization's hideouts in Iraq's northern Metina, Zap and Avasin-Basyan regions, near the Turkish border.

It was preceded by Operations Claw-Tiger and Claw-Eagle launched in 2020 to root out terrorists hiding in northern Iraq and plotting cross-border attacks in Türkiye.

In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US, UK, and EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.

The YPG is the PKK terror group's Syrian offshoot.