Daesh martyrs 5 Turkish soldiers near Syria's Al-Bab

By Sinan Uslu

ANKARA

Five Turkish soldiers were martyred and nine others injured in a car bomb attack by Daesh terrorist organization during Operation Euphrates Shield near the Daesh-held city of Al-Bab in northern Syria on Friday, according to the Turkish military.

The Turkish General Staff said the attack took place in Suflaniyah Village, northeast of Al-Bab.

The injured soldiers were rushed to nearby hospitals in southern Turkey's Gaziantep and Kilis provinces.

Earlier on Friday, 23 Daesh terrorists were killed in northern Syria over the last 24 hours as part of Operation Euphrates Shield, the military said.

Friday marks the 150th day of Operation Euphrates Shield, which began in late August to tighten border security, eliminate the terror threat along Turkish borders, and support opposition forces in Syria. The Free Syrian Army is backed by Turkish artillery and jets as a part of the operation.

The Turkish army is supporting Free Syrian Army fighters in their fight to liberate Al-Bab from the terrorist group.

Since the start of the operation, 3,014 improvised explosives and 43 mines have been neutralized, the military added.