Turkey hits nine Daesh targets in Syria

By Orhan Onur Gemici

ANKARA (AA) – The Turkish Armed Forces hit nine Daesh targets including four shelters and two command-and-control centers in northern Syria on Tuesday, according to an army statement released Wednesday.

Free Syrian Army (FSA) special task force soldiers, backed by Turkey, continued land-based attacks to control areas east and west of the city of Al-Bab.

The moves are part of Operation Euphrates Shield, which began in late August to rid Syria's northern border area of terrorists. Tuesday marks the 92st day of the operation.

Over 215 residential areas, including more than 1,800 square kilometers (694 square miles) of land in northern Syria, have been cleared of Daesh terrorists so far under the operation.

President Recep Erdogan on Tuesday said the operation is proving successful and that FSA troops have surrounded Al-Bab.

The Daesh-controlled town lies around 30 kilometers (19 miles) south of the Turkish border, and both the FSA and the PKK/PYD, which Turkey has listed as a terror organization, are battling to rout Daesh.