Ankara, October 27 (IANS). Turkish forces have “neutralized” at least 17 Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) members in northern Syria, according to the Turkish Defense Ministry.
Turkey’s Defense Ministry issued a statement on Saturday saying that YPG members have been “neutralized” in the Manbij areas of northern Syria as part of Operation Euphrates Shield, Operation Peace Spring.
According to the report of Xinhua news agency, Turkey has started an anti-terrorism campaign since 2016 to create a YPG-free area on its border with Syria. Under this campaign, many campaigns have been run with names like Euphrates Shield in 2016, Olive Branch in 2018 and Peace Spring in 2019 and 2020.
Turkish officials often use the word “neutralize” in their statements to imply that alleged “terrorists” have either surrendered, been killed, or been captured.
It is being told that this action was taken a day after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the perpetrators of the recent terrorist attack in Ankara had infiltrated into Turkey from Syria.
Two attackers, a man and a woman, attacked the Turkish Aerospace Industries production facility in a northern suburb of Ankara on Wednesday.
According to Turkish officials, both attackers have been confirmed to be members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
The attackers used automatic rifles and explosives in this attack. Five people died while 22 people were injured in this attack.
Türkiye views the YPG group as the Syrian branch of the PKK.
The PKK has been designated a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US and the European Union. The group has rebelled against the Turkish government for more than three decades.
–IANS
PSM/AS
