11 ISIL militants killed in northern Syria

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

AA photo

At least 11 Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants were killed in northern Syria in the last 24 hours as part of Turkey’s ongoing Euphrates Shield operation, according to a Turkish General Staff statement released on Jan. 11. 

Turkish Air Forces also hit 12 ISIL targets in Syria’s al-Bab region, including six weapon pits, two control points and three shelters used by the jihadists. 

The statement said the Turkish army’s efforts in supporting Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters in liberating al-Bab, a strategic city for ISIL, were ongoing. 

The operation began late August 2016 to improve security, support coalition forces, and eliminate terror threats along the Syrian border using FSA fighters backed by Turkish artillery and jets. 

Besides ISIL, the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and its military wing, People’s Protection Units (YPG) forces, are also regarded as terror organizations by Turkey due to their links with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). 

The statement also added that Turkish jets have decided not to conduct airstrikes on three ISIL targets in the evening on Jan. 10, because the targets were close to places where civilians lived.