Turkey hits 12 Daesh targets in Syria

ANKARA

The Turkish Armed Forces hit 12 Daesh targets in northern Syria on Friday, according to an army statement released Saturday.

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. Saturday marks the 95th day of the operation.

FSA troops gained control of Anifah neighborhood near Al-Bab, the statement read.

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 as part of the operation so far.

President Recep Erdogan on Tuesday said the operation is proving successful and that FSA troops had 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.

Reporting by Sinan Uslu; Writing Sibel Uğurlu;