ANKARA

Turkey "neutralized" eight YPG/PKK terrorists in the Operation Peace Spring area in northern Syria, according to Turkish National Defense Ministry on Wednesday.

Terrorists, detected by the Turkish unmanned aerial vehicles in tunnels they dug to infiltrate to the Operation Peace Spring area, were neutralized by Turkish commandos in a successful operation, the ministry said on Twitter.

Turkish authorities use the term "neutralize" to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.

Since 2016, Turkey has launched a trio of successful anti-terror operations across its border in northern Syria to prevent the formation of a terror corridor and enable a peaceful settlement of residents: Euphrates Shield (2016), Olive Branch (2018), and Peace Spring (2019).

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.

The YPG is the PKK's Syrian offshoot./aa