Turkish army hits 63 targets in northern Syria

ANKARA (AA) – The Turkish Armed Forces hit a total of 63 targets in northern Syria as part of anti-Daesh operations launched at 5.30 a.m. (0230 GMT) early Wednesday, military sources said.

According to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, the Turkish Air Forces directly hit 11 of 12 targets with precise accuracy as of 7.50 a.m. local time (0450 GMT).

The sources said that the operation was aimed at clearing terrorist groups from the Turkish border region, tightening border security, and supporting Syria’s territorial integrity.

The Turkish Air Forces carried out an operation "on identified targets" with F-16 fighter jets in Jarablus, Aleppo and the nearby village of Kaklijah, the sources added.

The operation is in line with the country’s right to self-defense borne out of international treaties and a mandate given to the Armed Forces by the Turkish parliament in 2014 and extended for another year in September 2015.

Operations by the Turkish Armed Forces, which have been actively fighting Daesh, have significantly contributed to ongoing efforts of the U.S.-backed international coalition against the terror group.