Operation Euphrates Shield

Hundreds and thousands of displaced Syrians have started to return to their homes in war-ravaged Idlib province, after the cease-fire was ensured in the province, according to Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency.

Mohamed al-Hallaj, director of the Response Coordinators Team, told Anadolu Agency that over 100,000 Syrians, who were staying at camps, returned to their homes.

Turkey's National Defense Ministry on April 8 said a total of eight YPG/PKK terrorists were "neutralized" in northern Syria.

In a Twitter post, the ministry said commando units struck a group of four terrorists who opened harassment fire on security forces in the area, earlier cleared by Turkey's Euphrates Shield Operation.

Turkish security forces neutralized at least seven YPG/PKK terrorists in northern Syria, the National Defense Ministry said on April 5.

Turkish security forces have destroyed 38 claymore mines, three anti-tank mines, and five kilograms of explosive material in northern Syria within the area of its recent anti-terror operation in the region, the Defense Ministry said on March 27.

The Turkish army "neutralized" two YPG/PKK terrorists attempting to infiltrate into northern Syrian territories, the Defense Ministry said on March 17.

"Our heroic commandos neutralized two separatist YPG/PKK terrorists trying to infiltrate into the area of the Operation Euphrates Shield region," the ministry said in a tweet.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on March 9 called on NATO members to show their alliance with Turkey "at this critical time."

"NATO is in a critical period in which it should clearly show the alliance's solidarity [with Turkey]," Erdoğan told reporters during a press conference alongside NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

Turkish army "neutralized" 13 YPG/PKK terrorists in northwestern Syria, the Defense Ministry said on March 9.

"13 YPG/PKK terrorists plotting an attack on the Turkish elements in the area of [Operation] Euphrates Shield from Tel Rifaat [northwestern Syria] were neutralized in a successful operation," the ministry said in a tweet.

Turkey and Russia will start joint patrols in Idlib northwestern Syria on March 15 under the ceasefire for the embattled province reached this week, Turkey's defense minister said.

Turkey and Russia have expressed hope that a much-anticipated meeting of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Russian President Vladimir Putin would lead to a ceasefire in Idlib province of Syria where tension has enormously escalated in the last week after Syria killed 34 Turkish troops in an aerial attack on Feb. 28.

The United States is willing to give NATO ally Turkey ammunition alongside humanitarian assistance in northwestern Syria where Ankara is in a deepening standoff with Russia, the U.S. special representative for the region said on March 3.