Turkish Military, Coalition Airstrikes Kill 23 Daesh Militants in Syria

Local Editor

Artillery fire from Turkey and coalition airstrikes killed 23 Daesh [Arabic acronym for "ISIS" / "ISIL"] militants in northern Syria, broadcaster Haberturk reported Monday.

Haberturk said a total of 33 strikes targeted militants thought to be preparing an attack on Turkey.

It did not say when the operation was carried out.

The US-led coalition has stepped up airstrikes against Daesh positions in the area in recent weeks, in response to rocket attacks by the militants on the border town of Kilis.

Kilis, just across the frontier from a Daesh-controlled region of Syria, had been hit by rockets more than 70 times this year. More than 20 people had been martyred and parts of the town reduced to rubble.

Turkey had also increased retaliatory fire but security sources said soldiers with heavy artillery stationed on the border find it difficult to hit the militants, who sometimes fire from the back of vehicles.

NATO member Turkey is also battling a Kurdish insurgency in its mainly Kurdish southeast. It has repeatedly said it needs more help from Western partners to keep Kilis and its Syrian border secure.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team