Turkey 'neutralizes' 10 PKK/YPG militants in Syria's north

ANKARA- Anadolu Agency

Turkish security forces have “neutralized” 10 PKK/YPG militants in northern Syria, Turkey's Defense Ministry said on June 11.

The ministry said that a counter-terrorism operation was conducted in Tal Rifat region following an attack carried out by PKK/YPG in Syria's Afrin on June 9, in which a Turkish troop was martyred.

Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply that the militants in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.

PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union. The YPG/PYD is its Syrian branch.

In the meantime, Turkish security forces repelled harassment fire by PKK/YPG militants in the eastern border province of Iğdır, security sources said on June 11.

Militants opened fire at the Kurtömer border post along the Turkish-Iranian frontier through long-barreled firearms, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

Turkish soldiers immediately responded to the attack, and after exchanging fire launched an operation to hunt down the fleeing militants, the sources added.