58 ISIL fighters killed by Turkish-led forces

By Aunde T. Emmanuel (eaundeblog)

Syrian rebels backed by the Turkish military have killed 58 ISIL fighters, capturing the outskirts of the ISIL-held city of al-Bab in northern Syria, the Turkish government and rebel sources have said.

 

The advance threatens an important ISIL stronghold, whose fall would deepen Turkish influence in an area of northern Syria where it has created a de facto buffer zone.

 

The Turkish military said in a statement that 58 ISIL fighters had been killed in air raids, ar­tillery fire, and clashes. Two Turkish soldiers were killed and 15 slightly wounded.

 

Syrian government forces also advanced on al-Bab from the south on Wednesday, bringing them into close proximity with their Turkish and rebel enemies in one of the most complex battlefields of the six-year-old conflict.

 

But Turkey said international coordination was under way to prevent clashes with the Syr­ian forces.