Turkish army strikes al-Qaeda-linked group's convoy in Syria

ISTANBUL - Agence France-Presse

his image posted on a militant website on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014, which is consistent with AP reporting, shows a convoy of vehicles and fighters from the al-Qaida linked Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) fighters in Iraq's Anbar Province. AP photo

The Turkish army said Jan. 29 it had opened fire on a convoy of vehicles in northern Syria belonging to the al-Qaeda-linked Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) jihadist group.

The army said the attack, carried out Jan. 28, came after two Turkish military vehicles had been fired upon at the Çobanbey border post in the southern Kilis province.

"A pick-up, a truck and a bus in an ISIL convoy were destroyed," read the statement, released by the Turkish General Staff. There were no casualties on the Turkish side.

The incident is the first pitting Turkey against the Syrian jihadist group which has been fighting forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad as well as fellow rebel groups in the north of the country since January.

Turkey has been accused of supplying arms to several rebel groups since March 2011. Ankara has categorically denied the accusation.

The Turkish army has fired into northern Syria several times in retaliation for shelling from on Turkish villages.