ANKARA, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Turkish security forces "neutralized" a total of eight "terrorists" in cross-border operations in northern Syria and northern Iraq, the Turkish Defense Ministry said on Sunday.

In two separate statements, the ministry said Turkish forces "neutralized" five members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in an air operation in its "Operation Claw-Lock" zone in northern Iraq, and three members of the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in its "Operation Peace Spring" zone in northern Syria.

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

In April 2022, Türkiye launched Operation Claw-Lock in northern Iraq, targeting the PKK's hideouts in the Metina, Zap, and Avasin-Basyan regions near the Turkish border.

Türkiye sees the YPG group as the Syrian branch of the 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 northern Syria in order to create a YPG-free zone along its border within the neighboring country.

The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the United States, and the European Union, has rebelled against the Turkish government for more than three decades.