Over 300 Daesh suspects held in Turkey in October

ANKARA

More than 300 Daesh suspects were held in October in Turkey as part of the ongoing fight against terrorism, according to data compiled by Anadolu Agency based on police and military sources.

The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media, said out of the 306 suspects held, 45 had been remanded in custody.

Moreover, Turkish Armed Forces targeted Daesh positions north of Iraq's Mosul city 6,820 times between Dec. 15, 2015, and Oct. 17, 2016, killing 690 Daesh terrorists. At least 555 Daesh shelters and buildings were destroyed along with 106 vehicles, 34 Katyusha rocket positions, a tank, five artilleries, numerous rocket launchers and 11 Dochka (anti-aircraft) guns.

Turkey’s Operation Euphrates Shield was launched in late August to clear Syria's northern border area of terrorists. It is now in its 71st day.

The operation aims to boost the security along the Turkish borders, to clean terrorist groups and to protect the territorial integrity of Syria.

Since the beginning of the operation, almost 1,350 kilometer square (521 mile square) area have been taken under control and 1,369 handmade explosives were disposed.