INFOGRAPHIC - Security corridor in Azaz-Jarabulus expands

By Levent Tok

AZAZ, Syria (AA) - The Free Syrian Army (FSA), backed by the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), has liberated around 680 square kilometers (262.5 square miles) of territory in northern Syria during Turkey's ongoing Operation Euphrates Shield to clear Daesh out from its southern border region.

The two-week Operation Euphrates Shield has forced Daesh and PYD/PKK terrorists into a corner, according to a security source.

Operation Euphrates Shield, which was launched on Aug. 24, aims at improving security, supporting coalition forces, and eliminating the terrorism threat along Turkey’s border through FSA fighters backed by Turkish armor, artillery, and jets.

Syria has been locked in a vicious civil war since early 2011 when the regime of Bashar al-Assad cracked down on pro-democracy protests.

The Turkish border with Syria was cleared Sunday of Daesh terrorists after the Turkish military-backed Free Syrian Army took control of all regions from Azaz to Jarabulus. Thus, Turkish border with Syria was cleared of Daesh terrorists.

Meanwhile, seven villages -- Qarabah Mamal, Haydar Basha, Humayrah, Umm al-Tadaya, Al-Masannah, Quba al-Dam and Al-Mustafa al-Kabir -- were captured by the Free Syrian Army from Daesh terrorist group on Monday.

On the other side of the operation, FSA fighters reached 24 kilometers (15 miles) south of the Turkish border inside Syria and arrived in the Sucu Cayi region, west of the Euphrates River. On Sunday, they took control of the villages of Ganime and Suveya, west of Jarabulus, as well as Kadikoy (El Kadi), the last Daesh-controlled village along the Turkish-Syrian border.

Meanwhile, Daesh fortified al-Bab town's northern parts to hold the town, its last stronghold in northern Syria, a local source told Anadolu Agency.

According to the source, Daesh has been storing militants, guns, and ammunition in al-Bab and its northern parts to defend its home base, al-Raqqa. Also, security sources told Anadolu Agency that Daesh had designated al-Bab's Soran and Akhtarin sub-districts as a resistance line.

PYD/PKK, which lost its exit door to the north in Syria’s northern city of Manbij in the west of the Euphrates, will not be able to find an exit from the country's west too, the source added.