TAL ABYAD, Syria / ANKARA, Turkey 

Turkey-backed Syrian National Army rebels have thwarted an attack by YPG/PKK terrorists, according to security sources on Monday.

They defused a car bomb in Syria's northern town of Tal Abyad, which was recently cleared of terrorists by Turkey with its Operation Peace Spring, said the sources who asked not to be named due to security concerns.

Search and sweep activities are ongoing in the region.

Tal Abyad is populated to a great extent by Arabs and was occupied by the terrorist group Daesh, also known as ISIS, in 2014. A year later, YPG/PKK terrorists occupied the city with the support of the U.S.

Turkey launched Operation Peace Spring to eliminate terrorists from northern Syria east of the Euphrates River in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.

Tal Abyad was cleared of terrorists as part of Operation Peace Spring on Oct. 13.

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

* Writing by Gozde Bayar