20 June 2016•Update: 24 June 2016
By Serdar Acil
ANKARA
At least 23 members of the Daesh terrorist group were neutralized Sunday in northern Syria during an operation by the Turkish Armed Forces and the U.S.-led coalition, security sources said.
Turkish artillery and coalition jets hit in two airstrikes a total of 33 weapon emplacements, including Katyusha rockets belonging to Daesh, which was reportedly preparing to attack Turkey, security sources said on Monday on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking with the media.
During Sunday’s operation, 23 Daesh terrorists were neutralized while three buildings, one defensive position and an anti-tank rocket launcher were destroyed in northern Syria, added the sources.
Turkey’s southeastern province of Kilis has faced a spate of cross-border rocket attacks from Daesh in recent months.
Syrian-Arab forces have also taken territory in the country formerly held by Daesh in a bid to capture a strategic hub linking the terrorist group with the Turkish border.
The PYD-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have seized 3 kilometers (1.86 miles) of territory to the northeast of the northern city of Manbij plus six kilometers (3.73 miles) to the south, the Pentagon said on June 9.
*Anadolu Agency Correspondent Satuk Bugra Kutlugun contributed to this report from Ankara.
