| AA photo |
At least 20 Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants have been killed in northern Syria over the last 24 hours as part of the ongoing Euphrates Shield operation, according to a Turkish General Staff statement early on Jan. 17.
The military stated that Turkish jets conducted air operations against 10 ISIL targets, including sniper positions and a mortar factory in al-Bab.
Free Syrian Army (FSA) special task forces also hit 106 ISIL targets over the past 24 hours with Turkish army support, it added.
The Turkish army is supporting FSA fighters in their fight to liberate al-Bab from the jihadist group. Jan. 17 marks the 147th day since the city was surrounded in order to liberate it.
The operation is part of the Turkish-led Euphrates Shield operation, which began in late August 2016 to improve security, support coalition forces, and eliminate the terror threat along Turkey’s border using FSA fighters backed by Turkish artillery and jets.
In total, 43 landmines and 2,941 improvised explosives have been defused since the start of the operation on Aug. 24, 2016.