Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria

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.

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.

Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MİT) has neutralized an alleged high-ranking PKK terrorist in the northern Iraq city of Sulaymaniyah, Demirören News Agency has reported.

"Mehmet Doğan, codenamed 'Dılhaz Gabar,' was neutralized in an operation conducted by MİT in the Cemcemal neighborhood of Sulaymaniyah," the agency reported on June 2.

Some 19 PKK terrorists have been neutralized in the regions of the Operation Olive Branch and Operation Peace Spring, the Turkish Defense Ministry has said.

Posting a tweet about the latest operations against the terror organization, the ministry said, "Sixteen in the Operation Olive Branch zone and three in the Operation Peace Spring have been neutralized."

With the Turkish government's efforts to maintain public order and provide economic and social benefits to local communities in northern Syria, some 500,000 Syrians who had sought temporary protection in Turkey have returned to their homeland.

Security forces have "neutralized" five terrorists in northern Iraq and northern Syria, the Defense Ministry has announced.

In a statement released on Feb. 27, the ministry said that four PKK/YPG terrorists were neutralized after they opened harassing fire and attempted to infiltrate the Operation Peace Spring zone in northern Syria.

The number of terrorists in Turkey has dropped to around 150, Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu has said.

Speaking at the Gendarmerie General Command 2021 Evaluation Meeting, Soylu stated that the number of acts of terrorism decreased by 95 percent between the end of 2015 and 2021.

Turkish security forces have 'neutralized' 29 PKK/YPG terrorists in northern Syria, the Defense Ministry has announced.

"Commandos neutralized 28 terrorists, who were preparing to launch an attack in the Operation Euphrates Shield zone," said the ministry in a statement on Feb. 11.

Two terrorists affiliated with the PKK's Syrian offshoot, the YPG, have been eliminated in northern Syria by Turkish commando units, the Defense Ministry said on Feb. 6.

Turkish security forces have launched a new domestic counterterrorism operation called "Eren Winter-20" against the PKK terrorist group in the southeastern province of Mardin.

A total of 585 security personnel, including gendarmerie forces and operational teams, will take part in Operation Eren Winter-20, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.