Soldier martyred, 6 hurt in Al-Bab, Syria

ANKARA

One of the seven soldiers injured during Operation Euphrates Shield near the Daesh-held city of Al-Bab in northern Syria has succumbed to his wounds, Turkish military sources said Monday.

The six other injured soldiers, taken to hospitals in Turkey's border cities of Kilis and Gaziantep by helicopter, were still receiving treatment, the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

The troops were wounded during an operation with Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters to liberate Al-Bab from Daesh, a strategic city for the terrorist group.

There were no immediate reports about the circumstances behind their injuries.

Meanwhile, 12 Daesh shelters were hit on Monday in northern Syria as part of Operation Euphrates Shield.

The Turkish Armed Forces destroyed 208 Daesh targets in the area early on Monday, including weapon depots and buildings used by the terrorists.

Monday marks the 118th day of Operation Euphrates Shield, which began in late August to improve security, support coalition forces and eliminate the terror threat along Turkey’s border using Free Syrian Army fighters backed by Turkish artillery, and jets.

Over 215 residential areas in northern Syria, including more than 1,800 square kilometers (694 square miles) of land, have so far been cleared of Daesh terrorists under the operation.