21 Daesh terrorists killed in northern Syria

By Kemal Karadag and Esin Isik

ANKARA

At least 21 Daesh terrorists were killed in northern Syria in the last 24 hours as part of the ongoing Operation Euphrates Shield by Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army and Turkish forces, according to a Turkish General Staff statement Saturday.

The statement said 95 Daesh targets, including shelters and gun emplacements, had been hit by Turkish Land Forces.

In addition, Turkish fighter jets destroyed 9 targets including a building used as a hideout and two vehicles.

Turkey and the FSA have been focused on liberating Al-Bab from Daesh since late November as part of Operation Euphrates Shield, launched in late August to clear the terror threat along Turkey’s southern border.

In addition, two PKK terrorists were killed in an ongoing anti-terror operation in the southeastern Mardin province, the General Staff said in another statement.

The PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and EU -- resumed its armed campaign in July 2015 and has since been responsible for the deaths of approximately 1,100 security personnel and civilians, including women and children.