ANKARA 

Turkish security forces arrested 10 YPG/PKK terrorists in northern Syria, near the country's southern border, the National Defense Ministry said Monday.

The terrorists were detained in the area -- where Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch, an offensive against terrorists --before they “could realize their treacherous plans," the ministry said on Twitter.

“We continue to work for the peace and security in the Operation Olive Branch zone,” it said.

Turkish troops are in the region as part of a cross-border security and counter-terrorism initiative.

Since 2016, Turkey has launched a trio of successful anti-terrorist operations across its border in northern Syria to prevent the formation of a terror corridor and enable peaceful settlement by locals: Euphrates Shield (2016), Olive Branch (2018) and Peace Spring (2019).

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants. The YPG is the PKK's Syrian offshoot.