ANKARA 

Turkish security forces “neutralized” at least three YPG/PKK terrorists in northern Syria, near Turkey's southern border, the National Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.

"Our commandos will not allow passage to terror groups. Three PKK/YPG terrorists, who attempted to infiltrate into the Operation Peace Spring zone aiming to disrupt the peace and secure environment, were neutralized," the ministry said on Twitter.

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

Turkey has neutralized over 1,300 terrorists across five different operation areas since the beginning of 2020, National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said last week.

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.