ANKARA, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Turkish security forces killed 29 members of Syria's Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in northern Syria, Turkey's Defense Ministry said Friday.
A total of 28 YPG members who attempted to attack the Operation Euphrates Shield zone and one YPG fighter trying to attack the Operation Peace Spring region were "neutralized," the ministry said in a written statement.
Turkish authorities often use the term "neutralized" to mean militants are killed, wounded or captured in security operations.
Turkish forces and the YPG members often exchange fire on the Syrian border, but the tension has increased in the region since early January when three Turkish soldiers were killed there.
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, in an alleged bid to eliminate terror threats against Turkey and provide a safe zone that will facilitate the return of Syrian refugees to their homes.
