Turkish airstrikes hit 187 Daesh targets in northern Syria

 41 Islamic State (IS) militants were killed and 187 targets belonging to terrorists were hit by Turkish army in Al-Bab of northern Syria in last 24 hours, Turkish General Staff said Friday.

According to the Turkish army, 177 positions belonging to the terrorists have been shelled, destroying defense positions, shelters and command facilities, as well as weapons and vehicles.

A total of 10 airstrikes have been carried out in Suflaniyah and Bzagah districts near Al-Bab in Northern Syria, destroying 4 shelters, 4 headquarters and 2 arms-laden vehicles.

A total of 2917 improvised explosive devices and 43 mines have been destroyed since the beginning of the operation, the military added.

The Turkish Armed Forces launched the Euphrates Shield Operation last August against both IS and the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), the military wing of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD).

Turkey regards the YPG and the PYD as terrorist organizations due to their links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

Meanwhile, Delegations from the Russian and the Turkish chiefs of staff have signed an agreement to define mechanisms regarding flight security and cooperation between the countries during operations against "terrorist targets" in Syria following a meeting in Moscow, the Turkish Armed Forces announced Jan. 12.

The statement said the meetings were held between Russian and Turkish military representatives to ensure flight security and prevent undesired incidents during operations in Syria.

The agreement also stated mechanisms would be determined in terms of coordination and cooperation between Russian and Turkish warplanes to ensure flight security during offensives against terrorist threats in Syria.

Last month, Moscow and Ankara agreed to back a cease-fire between the Syrian government and rebel groups, with the truce largely holding in vast areas of the country, though clashes have continued to occur near Damascus.

source: Xinhua