Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria

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.

Turkish forces "neutralized" four YPG/PKK terrorists in Syria's north, the Defense Ministry said.

The terrorists were targeted by Turkish commandos when they tried to infiltrate the Operation Peace Spring area, the ministry said on Twitter.

They were neutralized after opening fire on the Turkish troops, the statement noted.

The Turkish military has "neutralized" 831 terrorists in cross-border operations in northern Iraq since April, said the defense authorities on Nov. 20.

According to the Defense Ministry, Turkish soldiers have seized nearly 1,300 weapons and 316,000 ammunitions belonging to the terrorists since Operations Pençe-Şimşek and Pençe-Yıldırım were launched in April.

Turkish forces "neutralized" two YPG/PKK terrorists in northern Syria, Turkey's Defense Ministry said on Nov. 13.

The terrorists were targeted by Turkish commandos when they tried to infiltrate the Operation Peace Spring area, the ministry said on Twitter.

Turkish authorities use the term "neutralize" to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.

"De facto terrorist statelets" would have emerged across Turkey's southern borders with Iraq and Syria had Ankara not conducted its anti-terror operations in recent years, the spokesman for AKP said on Oct. 28.

Turkey will pursue a much more different struggle against the presence of the YPG/PKK terrorists in northern Syria due to the escalation of terrorist attacks in the region, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said, repeating his criticisms against the United States for supporting the YPG/PKK.

The U.S. on Oct. 12 condemned a cross-border attack on Turkish soil and offered condolences for the killings of two Turkish police offers in northern Syria.

The Turkish president on Oct. 11 said his country has run out of patience after the latest deadly attack on its police force in northern Syria and harassment targeting his country's territories.

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's comments came at a news conference following a Cabinet meeting at the Presidential Complex in the capital Ankara.

By George Gilson

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu used a presser in Ankara with visiting Venezuelan Foreign Minister Felix Plasencia to unleash a sharp attack on US President Joe Biden.

The statements were yet another strong indication that US-Turkey relations have reached a nadir.

Biden 'supporting terrorist organisation'

The U.S. administration is not telling the truth while sending letters to Congress or informing its people, Turkey's foreign minister said on Oct. 9 in response to Washington's decision to extend the national emergency executive order in Syria.