Northern Syria Buffer Zone

Security forces have "neutralized" 16 PKK terrorists in northern Syria, the Defense Ministry said on June 15.

"Our Turkish Armed Forces have neutralized an additional 16 terrorists, targeting the terrorist nests in the Tel Rifaat and Manbij regions. Mehmetçik [Turkish soldiers] continues to destroy the terror dens," the ministry said in a social media statement.

Security forces have "neutralized" 41 PKK/YPG terrorists in northern Syria, the Defense Ministry said on June 14.

"Our heroic Turkish Armed Forces have neutralized an additional 41 terrorists, targeting the terrorist nests in the Tel Rifaat and Manbij regions. We will continue to bury these terrorists in the very pits they have dug," the ministry said in a post on social media.

Turkey will address its security concerns in northern Syria with new operations against the YPG group, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on June 5.

"We will address security concerns with new operations," the president said, addressing his ruling Justice and Development Party's 30th Consultation and Assessment meeting.

Those who threaten Turkey with sanctions will end up disappointed, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday.

In a videotaped message for a highway opening, the Turkish president noted that his country "will never hesitate to use its sovereign rights," Anadolu agency reported.

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said there had been no violations of the ceasefire in Syria's Idlib, as part of the agreement with Russia.

"We will continue to be a deterrent force to prevent any violation to the ceasefire. None occurred since ceasefire entered into force," Akar said in Turkey's southern Hatay province, bordering Syria.

Two opposition parties in parliament have welcomed a Turkish-Russian deal that paved the way for the cessation of all military activities in the Idlib province of Syria, with calls for the government to take the necessary measures for the protection of the Turkish troops in the field. 

Turkey's Defense Minister Hulusi Akar has met United States State Department's Special Envoy James Jeffrey and U.S. Ambassador to Ankara David Satterfield in the Turkish capital to discuss the ongoing conflict in Idlib where the Turkish army launched an offensive against the Syrian regime forces.

Turkish and Russian delegations are set to meet in Moscow on February 17 amid escalated tension in the Syrian province of Idlib where the Turkish and Syrian military forces pit against each other with concerns of fresh armed conflicts between the two.

Tod Wolters, commander of the U.S. European Command and NATO Supreme Allied Commander-Europe, visited Ankara on Jan. 30 for talks which primarily focused on Syria, diplomatic sources have told Hürriyet Daily News.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a phone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel to discuss Syria and Libya, an official statement said on Jan. 6.

According to the statement issued by Turkey's Directorate of Communications, the two leaders also addressed the bilateral relations and regional developments.