Turkish forces kill 277 terrorists in Syrian operation Peace Spring

Explosions send plumes of smoke into the sky in the Syrian border town of Tal Abyad as Turkey's Operation Peace Spring commences with day three of strikes to rid the area of terrorists, TRT World reports.

Turkey's Defence Ministry reports that one Turkish soldier was killed during the military campaign in northern Syria.

Turkish armed forces killed 49 more YPG/PKK terrorists during overnight strikes.

The total number of terrorists killed since the start of the anti-terror campaign now stands at 277, according to the ministry.

Turkey kills 228 terrorists in Operation Peace Spring

A total of 228 terrorists have been killed so far since Turkey launched Operation Peace Spring in northern Syria, the Turkish National Defense Ministry said late Thursday.

“Nine more PKK/PYD-YPG terrorists neutralized in air operation within the scope of Operation Peace Spring. A total of 228 terrorists neutralized so far since Turkey started Operation Peace Spring in northern Syria," the ministry said on Twitter.

Russia accuses US of 'demographic engineering' in Syria

The US-led anti-Daesh coalition's "demographic engineering" in northeastern Syria prompted Turkey's military operation in the area, Russia's envoy to the UN charged Thursday.

"This operation is a result of demographic engineering that some of the coalition partners did in the northeast of Syria," Vassily Nebenzia told reporters at the international body's New York headquarters.

"Now, in fact, the coalition is reaping the fruit of their demographic policies in that part of Syria."

The Russian diplomat delivered his remarks following a closed-door Security Council session on the situation in Syria.

During the session, the divided UNSC did not agree on Turkey's operation in northeast Syria, despite Europeans demanding a halt to military action.

YPG/PKK shelling kills civilians

At least six civilians, including a nine-month-old baby boy were killed and 46 injured as rockets and mortar shells fired by YPG/PKK terrorists in Syria hit Turkish border towns, Turkish authorities said.

Rocket and mortars fired from YPG/PKK-occupied regions in Syria hit Akcakale, Birecik and Ceylanpinar towns of Sanliurfa as well as Nusaybin town of Mardin in southeastern Turkey.

Syrian baby Muhammed Omar lost his life after terrorist group PKK/YPG fired mortar shells and rockets from Syria into Turkey’s southeastern Sanliurfa province.

Meanwhile, a total of 174 terrorists have been killed since the launch of Operation Peace Spring, Turkey's Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Erdogan says Daesh won't have presence in northeast Syria

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan guaranteed that Daesh will not have a presence in northeast Syria after Turkey completes its Operation Peace Spring in the region.

Erdogan added that doors were open to anyone who leaves terrorist PYD/PKK, acts to protect their homes and honour, whether Arabs, Kurds or others.

“I call on Arabs, Kurds, all who have been forcefully recruited to YPG, to leave the terror group right away and start fighting for their honour and land along with our forces” said the Turkish president.

Turkey's plan with Operation Peace Spring is to make sure refugees can safely return home, President Erdogan emphasised while addressing governing AK Party members in Ankara.

"We will not accept anyone being harmed by Operation Peace Spring, especially civilians," he said.

President Erdogan further said that Turkey’s Operation Peace Spring in northern Syria has killed 109 terrorists since its start on Wednesday.

Besides, the Turkish president, referring to NATO treaty Article 5 said that NATO countries have no right to stay silent when a NATO member country is being attacked.

The Turkish president also slammed the EU, and warned, "If you try to describe our operation as ‘a push to occupy,’ we'II open our borders and send 3.6 million refugees to Europe."

"We are hosting 300,000 Kurds from Kobani, Syria," Erdogan said while rebuffing claims that Turkey is anti-Kurdish.

Russia ‘understands’ Turkey’s border security concerns

Russia understands Turkey’s concerns over its border security, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

“Since the start of Syrian crisis, we emphasise that we understand Turkey’s concerns over its border security,” Lavrov told reporters on the side lines of the meeting of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Foreign Ministers in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.

Lavrov said Russia also emphasised that these concerns would be eased within the framework of the agreement that was signed between Turkey and Syria in 1998, known as the Adana agreement.

Turkish troops capture initial targets in northern Syria

Turkish forces carrying out a military offensive into northeast Syria have captured initial targets and the operation is continuing successfully as planned, the Turkish Defence Ministry said on Thursday.

It said the operation continued throughout the night by land and air.

Turkish troops advance into northern Syria

Turkish troops are continuing their advance into northern Syria following a ground offensive launched as part of Operation Peace Spring, the Defence Ministry said early on Thursday.

"Our heroic commandos who are participating in Operation Peace Spring continue to advance [into the region] east of the Euphrates River in northern Syria," the ministry said on Twitter.

"Our army continues its fight against terrorists, while its main priority is to protect civilians from harm," Turkey's Vice President Fuat Oktay said on Twitter, touching on the purpose of the operation.