Centrum Stosunków Międzynarodowych - 24 August 2016: Turkey launched operation in Northern Syria

The Turkish Armed Forces had begun its cross-border “Euphrates Shield” operation against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant early on August 24 with aerial strikes and ground forces backed by strikes from rocket launchers, howitzers, and tanks. Operation “Fırat Kalkanı” (Euphrates Shield) began at around 4 a.m., with Turkish artillery units launching a total of 294 fires on 81 targets followed by four separate air operations by Turkish and coalition warplanes bombing ISIL targets. It was the first time that Turkish F-16’s launched an air operation in northern Syria since the downing of a Russian jet for violating its airspace on 24 of November 2015.

According to Turkish military around 12 targets were destroyed by air forces and by artillery and howitzer fire – more than 70.
State-owned Anadolu Agency told that “operation was aimed at clearing the Turkish border of “terrorist elements,” halting a new wave of refugee flows, and delivering humanitarian aid to civilians in the region, the last significant town held by the jihadist group on the border with Turkey”. Another target is “prioritizing and supporting Syria’s territorial integrity”.

U.S. Department of State spokesperson Mark Toner stated “We’re in contact with Turkish officials, as well as representatives of the Syrian Democratic Forces, on this incident. We’re working to ensure that tensions don’t escalate and to remind both sides or parties that ISIL is the main enemy here, the common enemy that must be confronted. Our efforts need to be geared towards ensuring that all our partners remain focused on that goal”.

As for 13.50 CET, Free Syrian Army captured four villages as they move in for a major offensive in Jarablus, killing 46 ISIL militants according to Doğan News.