Turkey's anti-terror operation in N Syria, one week on

Turkey's anti-terror operation in northern Syria has liberated two districts, one town and tens of villages from YPG/PKK terrorists in the first seven days. A total of 611 YPG/PKK terrorists have also been neutralized.

Since Operation Peace Spring started on Oct. 9, the districts of Tal Abyad and Ras al-Ayn, the town of Suluk and several villages were cleared of terrorists.

Turkey-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) is combing the liberated villages to ensure safety of civilians.

SNA troops on search and patrol duties also removed so-called flags of the terrorist group in the village of Tal Half in the Ras al-Ayn district.

The operation is ongoing in the countryside of Tal Abyad and Ras al-Ayn districts.

"Tal Abyad and Ras al-Ayn are under control, our efforts regarding safety in the region continue," Turkey's Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on Monday.

The town center of Tal Abyad district was cleared of YPG/PKK terrorists last Sunday.

On the same day, the village of Suluk in southeastern Tal Abyad was cleared of YPG/PKK terrorist organization.

The YPG/PKK terrorist group's human rights violation in northern Syria forced at least 50,000 people to flee the Tal Abyad district and its surrounding villages since mid-2015.

A total of 611 terrorists were neutralized as part of Turkey's anti-terror operation in northern Syria in its first week.

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

At least 46 SNA troops were martyred and 136 others injured during Operation Peace Spring.

The M4 highway which is at about 30 kilometers (19 miles) from Turkey's border has been taken under control, the Turkish Defense Ministry said in a statement on Oct. 13.

The M4 highway, which connects Syria's east to its west, constitutes the border for the safe zone.

The safe zone, which includes the M4, aims to block YPG/PKK terrorists and their armed attacks in the region.

The terror group is currently using the highway for logistics and trade.

Syria has been locked in a vicious civil war since early 2011, when the Bashar al-Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests with unexpected ferocity.

Since then, over 5 million civilians have become refugees. Turkey hosts 3.6 million of them, the most any country does in the world.

The terror group YPG/PKK occupies one-third of Syria, while it also occupies three-fourths of Turkey's border.

Turkey has long decried the threat from terrorists east of the Euphrates in northern Syria, pledging military action to prevent the formation of a "terrorist corridor" there.

Since 2016, Turkey's Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch operations in northwestern Syria have liberated the region from YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists, making it possible for Syrians who fled the violence to return home.

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

Ankara wants to clear northern Syria east of the Euphrates River of the terrorist YPG/PKK.

Turkey has said the YPG/PKK constitute the biggest threats to Syria's future, jeopardizing the country's territorial integrity and unitary structure. YPG is the Syrian offshoot of the PKK.

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