Turkish bombing kills 20 IS militants in Syria

At least 20 militants from the Islamic State terror group were killed in a Turkish air force bombing in the Syrian area of al-Bab, local media reports said on Thursday.

During the air operation, Turkish forces also destroyed eight IS targets, including weapons depots, and command and firing positions, reports Efe.

The IS militants were expelled from the city of al-Bab, which is the main IS stronghold in the province of Aleppo, on October 10 in an offensive carried out by Turkey-backed Syrian rebel forces.

On December 9, Ankara increased its presence in northern Syria by sending 300 soldiers, who joined Turkey's operations carried out in cooperation with the opposition Free Syrian Army since late August.

Since the start of operations four months ago, Turkey has insisted that it will not allow the presence of IS or Kurdish militias on its borders.

--IANS

vgu/dg