Türkiye neutralizes 9 PKK/YPG terrorists in northern Syria

Turkish security forces have “neutralized” nine PKK/YPG terrorists in northern Syria, the country’s National Defence Ministry announced.

The ministry stated on X (formerly Twitter) that the terrorists were attempting to launch an attack on Turkish soldiers at the time of the operation, Caliber.Az reports.

Terörü kaynağında yok etmeye azimliyiz, kararlıyız!

Kahraman Mehmetçiklerimiz, Suriye'nin kuzeyinde saldırı hazırlığı yapan 9 PKK/YPG'li teröristi etkisiz hâle getirdi.

Teröristler bu coğrafyadan yok olup gidinceye kadar mücadelemiz devam edecek!#MillîSavunmaBakanlığı pic.twitter.com/MM3YjcC7w2

— T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı (@tcsavunma) January 14, 2025

"We are determined to destroy terrorism at its source," the ministry emphasized, adding that "Our fight will go on until the terrorists disappear from this geography."

In Turkish military terminology, "neutralized" refers to individuals who have been killed, captured, or have surrendered.

This operation is part of Türkiye’s ongoing efforts to combat terrorism and maintain security along its borders. Since 2016, Ankara has carried out a series of successful anti-terror operations in northern Syria, including Operation Euphrates Shield (2016), Operation Olive Branch (2018), and Operation Peace Spring (2019). These operations aim to prevent the establishment of a terrorist corridor along the Turkish-Syrian border and to facilitate the peaceful settlement of displaced residents in the region.

The PKK, a Kurdish separatist group that has waged a 40-year-long terror campaign against Türkiye, is considered a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the United States, and the European Union. The PKK has been responsible for the deaths of over 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants. The YPG is the Syrian affiliate of the PKK.

The PKK/YPG has attempted to exploit the instability in Syria following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime to establish a "terrorist corridor" along the Turkish border, a goal that continues to drive Turkish military operations in the region.

By Vafa Guliyeva