Operation Euphrates Shield

A total of six PKK/YPG terrorists have been neutralized in the Operation Euphrates Shield zone, the Turkish Defense Ministry has announced.

"There is no escape from the end that awaits them for the terrorists. The operations will continue without any interruption," the ministry said in a social media post.

Türkiye will continue to fight against the terrorists until it establishes a 30-kilometer depth security corridor in northern Syria, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said, signaling a new cross-border military operation in accordance with the plans and strategies of the government.

Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu has stressed that recent studies show around 70 percent of refugees, including Syrians, are willing to return home if security conditions are well provided.

Türkiye has "neutralized" nearly 2,000 terrorists in cross-border terror operations in 2022, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on July 9.

Iran's top diplomat has said Tehran understands Türkiye's security concerns stemming from northern Syria amid Ankara's vows over a new military incursion against the presence of the terrorist organizations.

Türkiye is working on a project to construct some 240,000 new houses in northern Syria's 13 regions to enable a safe return to Syrians, Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu has said.

Among the 13 regions are Jerablus, Tell Abyad, Ras al-Ayn and Al Bab, the provinces cleared off terrorists by Turkish army in Operation Euphrates Shield.

Displaced Syrians who live in tent camps near the Turkish border are hoping to return homes once Türkiye goes ahead with the planned military operation to clear the Tal Rifaat and Manbij regions of terrorists.

Following Ankara's announcement of an upcoming military incursion in northern Syria, the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army has deployed some 5,000 armed men in the region to act with the Turkish army to clear Tal Rifaat and Manbij provinces of PKK/YPG terrorists.

"We can take Tal Rifaat in 24 hours with Turkish soldiers," SNA commanders said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Turkish army has started hitting some PKK/YPG targets in northern Syria's Tal Rifaat and Manbij districts with cannon fire as the preparations for an upcoming crossover military operation, aimed to be conducted for safe return of some 500,000 Syrians, are ongoing.

No one should try to prevent Turkey from conducting a military operation in Syria's north to secure its borders, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar has said.

"We act as principled, open, transparent and in compliance with international law as much as possible in all our activities," Akar told a group of journalists following a cabinet meeting late on June 6.