Türkiye "neutralizes" 13 PKK/YPG terrorists in Northern Iraq, Syria VIDEO

Türkiye's National Defence Ministry announced that its security forces have "neutralized" 13 terrorists affiliated with the PKK/YPG in northern Iraq and northern Syria.

Six of the terrorists were targeted in the Gara region of northern Iraq, while the remaining seven were neutralized in the Euphrates Shield and Peace Spring operation zones in northern Syria, Caliber.Az reports via Turkish media.

Ara, bul, yok et!

Kahraman Türk Silahlı Kuvvetlerimiz, Irak’ın kuzeyindeki Gara bölgesinde tespit ettiği 6 PKK’lı terörist ile Suriye’nin kuzeyindeki Barış Pınarı ve Fırat Kalkanı bölgesinde belirlediği 7 PKK/YPG’li teröristi etkisiz hâle getirdi.

Teröristler, her nerede… pic.twitter.com/kcoy1dmg7r

— T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı (@tcsavunma) January 31, 2025

The term "neutralize" is commonly used by Turkish authorities to indicate that the terrorists were either killed, captured, or surrendered during the operations.

The PKK, a Kurdish militant group, frequently operates from northern Iraq, using the region as a base for launching cross-border attacks against Türkiye. In response, Türkiye has conducted numerous anti-terror operations in both Iraq and Syria.

Since 2016, Türkiye has implemented several successful operations in northern Syria, including Euphrates Shield (2016), Olive Branch (2018), and Peace Spring (2019), aiming to prevent the establishment of a "terror corridor" along its southern border and to facilitate the peaceful resettlement of local residents.

The PKK, which is designated as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US, and the EU, has waged a violent campaign against Türkiye for over 40 years, responsible for more than 40,000 deaths, including civilians from all age groups. The YPG, the Syrian affiliate of the PKK, has been similarly targeted in Türkiye’s ongoing counter-terrorism operations.

Since the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria, the PKK/YPG has attempted to exploit the regional instability to establish a safe haven along the Turkish-Syrian border. However, Türkiye remains committed to eliminating the threat posed by these terrorist groups and ensuring the security of its border regions.

By Vafa Guliyeva