YPG

As tensions continue to rise in the last Syrian rebel bastion of Idlib, Russia and the United States are now battling, in Turkish, on an unprecedented turf: Twitter.

The U.S. Embassy in Ankara posted a video on its Twitter account with the caption "Eyes on Idlib."

The video's message voiced solidarity with Turkey and said the U.S. will "use its power for peace in Syria."

Scores of Syrian regime elements were "neutralized" on Feb. 12 in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib, the Turkish Defense Ministry has said.

"According to information conveyed by several sources in Idlib region, it has been learned that 55 regime elements were neutralized today," said the statement.

A wanted YPG/PKK terrorist was neutralized in a counter-terrorism operation in eastern Turkey, the country's Interior Ministry's said on Feb. 8.

Turkish authorities use the term "neutralized" to imply that the terrorist in question either surrendered or was killed or captured.

Terrorist Ömer Oran, also known as Bager, was on the ministry's most wanted list.

At least seven civilians were killed and 20 others injured in a car bombing in Syria's northwestern city of Azaz, Turkey's defense ministry said on Jan. 26.

The injured were transferred to a hospital.

Turkish security forces were able to persuade three more YPG/PKK terrorists to surrender, the Interior Ministry said on Jan. 25.

The terrorists surrendered at Turkey's southeastern Habur border gate with Iraq.

A total of 15 terrorists have surrendered since the beginning of this year with support from their families.

Turkish police on Jan. 21 arrested three suspects for allegedly sending a shipment of four unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to terrorist groups in Syria, state-run Anadolu Agency reported on Jan. 21.

Turkish security forces seized 647 kilograms (1,426 pounds) of marijuana during nationwide operations, authorities said.

The gendarmes in southeastern Diyarbakır province seized 515 kg (1,135 lbs) of marijuana, according to the local governor's office.

Security forces seized weapons and ammunition and destroyed winter bunkers used by YPG/PKK terrorists in southeastern Turkey.

Turkey deported nearly 780 foreign terrorist fighters back to their countries in 2019, the interior minister said on Dec. 29.

"We have sent 778 foreign terrorist fighters back to their countries of origin since the beginning of the year," Süleyman Soylu said in a live interview with CNN Turk.

Soylu did not mention whether all of them were linked to the ISIL terror group.

Four PKK/YPG terrorists surrendered to Turkish security forces, the Interior Ministry announced on Dec. 22.

Three terrorists were convinced by Turkish forces. Another fled the terror group and surrendered to the Turkish forces in the southeastern province of Şırnak.

A district mayor in southeastern Diyarbakır has been suspended from her position over alleged links to terrorist organizations, the provincial governor's office said on Dec. 21.