AZAZ, Syria 

The Free Syrian Army (FSA) has taken control of two northern Syrian villages from Daesh, including one symbolically important to the terrorist group. 

According to FSA commanders, the villages of Dabiq and Soran were cleared as part of Turkey’s Operation Euphrates Shield.

Dabiq, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) northeast of Aleppo and around 10 kilometers (6 miles) south of Syria’s border with Turkey, has a symbolic importance for Daesh, as the group believes it will be the site of an end-times battle with non-Muslims. Dabiq is also the name of one of Daesh’s online magazines. 

Security sources, speaking on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, told Anadolu Agency that the operation will continue. 

Operation Euphrates Shield, which began on Aug. 24 backed by the Turkish Armed Forces, is aimed at bolstering border security, supporting coalition forces, and eliminating the threat posed by terror organizations, especially Daesh.

Operation Euphrates Shield has driven Daesh from Turkey’s border with Syria as Turkish armor, artillery, special forces, and jets support FSA fighters. 

 Dabiq operation officially underway

Operation Euphrates Shield is being carried out "successfully," Turkish Defense Minister Fikri Isik said Sunday in Turkey’s western Kocaeli province.

"Today, the Dabiq operation officially started. Operation Euphrates Shield is now being carried out together with the Free Syrian Army (FSA) in Dabiq, which is highly important for Daesh," Isik added. 

Isik said that all government bodies are on alert so that FSA can carry out a "successful" operation there, adding: "We will fulfill whatever they need."

He added that Turkey has cleared Daesh elements from a 90-kilometer strip of Syrian territory along Turkey’s border.