Turkish soldier, 44 ISIL militants killed in Syria

GAZİANTEP

One Turkish soldier and at least 44 Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants were killed in northern Syria during clashes as part of Turkey’s ongoing Euphrates Shield operation. 

One Turkish soldier was killed and two others were injured after improvised explosive devices detonated during mine clearing operations, the Turkish General Staff said in a statement on Feb. 21.

The army expressed condolences to the family of the killed soldier and wished a speedy recovery to those wounded.        

Some 44 ISIL members were also killed in the fighting in the last 24 hours by Turkish forces and the U.S.-led coalition, the military said early on Feb. 21. 

It added that 109 ISIL targets, including shelters, had been hit by Turkish land and air forces as part of the Euphrates Shield operation.        

The Euphrates Shield operation began in late August 2016 to improve security, support coalition forces and eliminate the terror threat along the Turkish border using Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters backed by Turkish artillery and jets.

Around 70 Turkish soldiers have been killed in the fighting in northern Syria since the operation began.