ISIL attack on civilians in Syria’s al-Bab kills at least 30: Turkish military

ANKARA

At least 30 were killed and scores were wounded on Dec. 25 when Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants staged an attack, targeting civilians who were trying to escape Syria’s al-Bab, the Turkish Armed Forces has announced.

According to the military, the jihadist group staged an attack with explosives to prevent civilians from escaping the city center, killing at least 30 and wounding scores.

It also stated two Free Syrian Army (FSA) rebels were also wounded in clashes in the 125th day of the ongoing Euphrates Shield Operation in Syria.

Some 113 ISIL targets, including sanctuaries, defense positions, command centers, weapons and vehicles belonging to the militants, were destroyed, the military said. Some 74 hand-made explosives were also destroyed, it added.

Meanwhile, a Turkish soldier who was wounded during an operation last week succumbed to his injuries in hospital in the southeastern province of Gaziantep on Dec. 26, state-run Anadolu Agency has reported.

Contracted soldier Mehmet Ünal was receiving treatment in an intensive care unit at Gaziantep University’s Medical Faculty hospital after he was heavily wounded on Dec. 19. His funeral will be held in his hometown of Yozgat in Central Anatolia.

Ünal’s death brings the number of total Turkish losses in the operation to 38 since the launch of the operation in August.

Turkish troops along with FSA fighters have been fighting for al-Bab against ISIL for over one month and clashes intensified last week.

 Turkey launched the Euphrates Shield Operation on Aug. 24, in order to free its border of terrorist organizations, which not only include ISIL but also the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and the People’s Protection Units (YPG). Turkey considers them as terror organizations due to their purported ties with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).