ANKARA, Jan 31 (NNN-ANADOLU) – Turkey’s security forces killed four members of Syria’s Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) in northern Syria, the Turkish Defence Ministry said, yesterday.
The Turkish forces “neutralised” the YPG fighters after they attempted to attack Turkey’s “Operation Peace Spring” zone in Syria, the ministry tweeted.
Three Turkish soldiers were killed on Jan 8, when an improvised explosive device exploded on Turkey’s border with Syria.
The Turkish army launched Operation Euphrates Shield in 2016, Operation Olive Branch in 2018, Operation Peace Spring in 2019 and Operation Spring Shield in 2020, in northern Syria.
Turkish authorities said, the operations aim to eliminate threats against Turkey and provide a safe zone that will facilitate the return of Syrian refugees to their homes.
Turkey lists the YPG as the Syrian branch of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Turkish forces and the YPG members in the region, often exchange fire on the Syrian border.