Turkey 'neutralises' over 2400 terrorists in Syria

Turkey neutralised at least 2,434 terrorists belonging to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PYD/PKK) and Islamic State (IS) group in a military operation in Syria's Afrin region, the Turkish general staff said in a statement on Saturday.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Turkish military forces neutralised 2,184 terrorists.

The word "neutralised" is used to imply that the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.

The operation 'Olive Branch' was launched on January 20 to clear PYD/PKK and IS terrorists from Afrin in northwestern Syria, Anadolu news agency reported.

The main aim of the Turkish forces is to establish security and stability along Turkey's borders as well as to protect Syrians from terrorist oppression and cruelty.

"The operation is being carried out under the framework of Turkey's rights based on international law, United Nations Security Council resolutions, its self-defence rights under the UN charter, and respect for Syria's territorial integrity," the Turkish military added.

Also, 924 terror targets have been destroyed ever since the military operations began in January.

The PKK, which is based in Turkey, Iraq and parts of Syria, has been involved in an armed conflict with Turkey for the past few years. Its aim is to achieve the objective of creating an independent Kurdish state.

It has been listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.

The PKK is responsible for the deaths of more than 1,200 Turkish security personnel and civilians.