ANKARA

Turkish security forces have "neutralized" 16 YPG/PKK terrorists in northern Syria and Iraq, across Turkiye's border, the National Defense Ministry said Sunday.

Fourteen of the terrorists were neutralized after opening harassing fire on the Operation Peace Spring and Operation Euphrates Shield zones of northwestern and northern Syria, the ministry said on Twitter.

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

In a separate tweet, the ministry later announced that two more PKK terrorists were neutralized in a Turkish air strike in the Metina region of northern Iraq.

PKK terrorists often hide out in northern Iraq, across Turkiye's southern border, to plan terrorist attacks in Turkiye.

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

In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Turkiye, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the US, and EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of at least 40,000 people, including women, children and infants. The YPG is the PKK's Syrian offshoot.