ANKARA, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Turkish security forces "neutralized" at least 12 members of the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in northern Syria, Turkey's Defense Ministry said on Sunday.

"A harassment fire was opened with vehicles loaded 'Dushka' (heavy machine gun)," said the ministry in a written statement.

It added that "an attempt to infiltrate from another direction was also initiated in coordination with this activity towards our elements in the southwest of Tel-Abyad settlement in the region of 'Operation Peace Spring' on late May 2."

"It was determined that around 10-15 PKK/YPG terrorists participated in the attack. 12 terrorists were neutralized as a result of the accurate fire shootings. No casualties occurred in our troops or friendly elements," it said.

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

Turkey sees the YPG group as the Syrian branch of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

The Turkish army launched Operation Euphrates Shield in 2016, Operation Olive Branch in 2018, Operation Peace Spring in 2019 and Operation Spring Shield in 2020 in order to create a YPG-free zone along its border within Syria.

The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the EU, launched a 30-year armed campaign against the Turkish state which caused the lives of more than 40,000 people. Enditem

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