ANKARA

Turkish security forces "neutralized" three YPG/PKK terrorists in northern Syria as part of a cross-border operation, the Turkish National Defense Ministry said on Monday.

"Three YPG/PKK terrorists, who opened harassing fire in the Operation Olive Branch zone to disrupt peace and safety, have been neutralized by our heroic commandos," the ministry said in a statement on Twitter.

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

Operation Olive Branch, launched in 2018, is among Turkey's three cross-border counter-terrorism operations launched in northern Syria to prevent the formation of a terror corridor and enable peaceful settlement by locals. The two other offensives are Operation Euphrates Shield (2016) and Operation 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.

*Writing by Dilan Pamuk