ANKARA

YPG/PKK terrorists attacked a school in northern Syria killing three civilians and injuring another eight including children, the Turkish National Defense Ministry said Tuesday.

"The PKK/YPG who continued their harassments and attacks, and conducted bombings in the Op Peace Spring area have now targeted a school in Tel Abyad's Curn village," the ministry said in a tweet.

Turkey on Oct. 9 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.

Ankara has reached two separate deals with the U.S. and Russia to pause the operation in order to allow YPG/PKK terrorists to withdraw from a planned safe zone, where Turkey wants to repatriate the refugees.

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 the PKK’s Syrian offshoot.