ANKARA

The Turkish military hit at least 80 Daesh targets in northern Syria on Monday as part of the ongoing Operation Euphrates Shield, according to a military source.

In a statement, the Turkish General Staff said 80 Daesh targets had been hit with 199 rounds of Firtina (storm) howitzer fire and 20 rounds of multiple rocket launchers.

In addition, coalition forces carried out nine airstrikes in the Guzel Mezra, Turkmen Bari and Aktarin regions; 12 Daesh terrorists were killed and two buildings destroyed during the operations.

The statement added that Turkish Armed Forces had taken all measures to protect civilians in the regions.

Turkey has said Operation Euphrates Shield, which was launched on Aug. 24, is aimed at bolstering border security, supporting coalition forces and eliminating the threat posed by terrorist organizations, especially Daesh.

The operation is in line with the country’s right to self-defense borne out of international treaties and a mandate given to Turkey’s armed forces by its parliament in 2014, which was extended for another year in September 2015.