Turkiye's ongoing counterterrorism operations in northern Iraq and Syria have led to the elimination of 278 PKK terrorists so far in 2025, the Turkish Defense Ministry announced Thursday. According to ministry spokesperson Rear Adm. Zeki Aktürk, 57 terrorists were neutralized last week alone in these regions. The operations aim to eradicate terrorism at its source, with the ministry reaffirming Turkiye’s commitment to cooperating with Syria’s new government to address common security threats, reads a Daily Sabah report.
Akturk emphasized that Turkiye’s military would continue its decisive actions against groups like the PKK, its Syrian affiliate YPG, and Daesh, rejecting any terrorist formations or unilateral actions in the region. He also noted that three PKK terrorists had surrendered in the past week, reiterating that surrendering to Turkish authorities is the only viable option for terrorists.
Further strengthening regional security, Turkiye is working closely with Syria’s new administration to enhance defense capacities and support the safe, voluntary return of displaced Syrians. A Turkish delegation visited Syria this week for technical discussions on defense cooperation, marking the first official contact between Turkiye’s defense ministry and Syria’s new leadership.
The statements come as uncertainty surrounds the fate of the U.S.-backed YPG, a direct threat to Turkiye, and as concerns rise over the YPG's role in Syria's post-Assad future. Turkiye has previously launched several cross-border offensives to curb the influence of terror groups like the PKK and Daesh, including Operations Euphrates Shield (2016), Olive Branch (2018), and Peace Spring (2019). Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also hinted at a possible military operation against the PKK/YPG if they fail to comply with Turkiye’s demands for a peaceful transition in Syria.
Turkiye has called on the YPG to expel foreign terrorists and cease their operations in Syria, offering to take control of Daesh detention camps currently under YPG control if the Syrian government is unable to manage them. Meanwhile, Syria's new leadership has raised the possibility of dissolving the YPG and integrating them into the post-Assad army, though YPG leader Mazloum Kobani has made clear their desire for decentralized administration, presenting a potential challenge to Syria’s unified governance goals.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
