Turkey 'neutralizes' 18 Daesh terrorists in Syria

ANKARA (AA) – Turkish aerial forces “neutralized” 18 Daesh terrorists in Syria overnight Friday, a military statement released on Saturday said.

The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) said opposition fighters continued to wrest control of northern Syria from terrorist groups.

In the Salva and Shuvayhat Sadir regions, a total of 10 terrorists were neutralized, while three shelters and an armed vehicle were destroyed.

In Al-Rai region, five terrorists were neutralized and five opposition fighters were martyred, the statement said.

Almost 1,600 square kilometers (617 square miles) of land in northern Syria have been cleared of Daesh terrorists as part of Turkey’s Operation Euphrates Shield so far.

In the last four days, Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army forces (FSA) arrived within eight kilometers (five miles) of the Al-Bab district, in Syria’s Aleppo province.

FSA fighters took control of five villages in Mare, northwest of Al-Bab, and Manbij, east of Al-Bab.

Just over 1,500 improvised grenades and 36 mines have been destroyed since the operation was launched.

Operation Euphrates Shield began in late August to rid Syria's northern border area of terrorists. Saturday marks the 81st day of the operation.