ISIL militants open fire on security forces near Syrian border

GAZİANTEP

AA photo

Militants from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) opened fire at Turkish soldiers doing mine clearing work in the southeastern town of Karkamış on Feb. 3, although no casualties were reported.

Turkish soldiers on duty in Karkamış, a district in the Gaziantep province that borders Syria, responded with fire as defined in Turkey’s rules of border engagement to the gunfire from Jarabulus, an ISIL stronghold on the Syrian side of the border, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

The mine clearing work on and near the border area was reportedly halted because of sporadic clashes after the gunfire.

Turkish security personnel have been conducting mine clearing work in the area for 16 days in preparation for the construction of a border wall in the area.