ISTANBUL, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish army has "neutralized" five members of the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) and Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in northern Syria and northern Iraq, the Defense Ministry announced on Saturday.
In a statement on X, the ministry reported that three "terrorists" from PKK and YPG were "neutralized" in the Euphrates Shield region of northern Syria. Türkiye considers the YPG group as the Syrian branch of the PKK.
Additionally, two other PKK members were "neutralized" in the Claw-Lock Operation area in northern Iraq, according to the ministry.
"We will continue our fight against terrorism with the same determination and resolve, without compromise, as we have until now," the ministry stated.
Turkish authorities often use the term "neutralize" in their statements to imply the alleged terrorists have either surrendered, been killed, or been captured.
Since 2016, Türkiye has conducted anti-terror operations along its border with northern Syria to establish a YPG-free zone. These operations include Euphrates Shield in 2016, Olive Branch in 2018, and Peace Spring in 2019 and 2020.
Türkiye launched Operation Claw-Lock in northern Iraq in 2022 to target PKK hideouts.
The PKK, designated as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the United States, and the European Union, has been engaged in armed rebellion against the Turkish government for four decades. ■