Turkey steps up strikes on Daesh in northern Syria

By Sarp Ozer

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish artillery hit more than 100 targets in northern Syria in the past 24 hours while airstrikes and ground clashes killed 38 Daesh terrorists, the Turkish military said Sunday.

The onslaught marked an escalation in attacks on the group since Turkey and the Free Syrian Army (FSA) launched Operation Euphrates Shield in August.

In a statement, the Turkish Armed Forces said 102 targets had been hit by fire from Firtina howitzers, rocket launchers, mortars and tanks.

Fourteen terrorists were killed in fighting with the FSA as they attempted to enter the opposition-controlled villages of Akhtarin and Turkmen Bareh, 3 kilometers (2 miles) east of Dabiq, the military said.

A further 17 Daesh fighters were killed in coalition airstrikes in the same area, also on Saturday.

On Sunday, Turkish airstrikes killed seven Daesh and destroyed five buildings around the Baraghedeh area.