22 ISIL militants ‘neutralized’ in northern Syria

Twenty-two Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants were “neutralized” in northern Syria over the last 24 hours as part of the Turkey-backed Euphrates Shield operation, the Turkish military said on Jan. 27.

Turkish authorities use the word “neutralized” in their statements to imply the militants in question were either killed, captured or surrounded.    

Turkish Armed Forces hit 272 ISIL targets including command and control facilities, defense points, shelters, vehicles and weapons used by ISIL militants in northern Syria, a Turkish General Staff statement said on the 157th day of the operation.        

Turkish jets also hit 21 buildings used as shelters, two headquarters, one weapons depot and four bomb-laden vehicles. Some 73 handmade explosives were neutralized.   

 Since the beginning of the operation, 3,282 handmade explosives and 55 mines were neutralized under controlled conditions.        

The Euphrates Shield operation began late August 2016 to tighten border security, eliminate the terror threat along Turkey’s southern borders and support opposition forces in Syria. Turkey backs the Free Syrian Army with artillery and jets as part of the operation.