ANKARA, August 24. /TASS/. Turkey’s artillery and aviation have destroyed more than 80 targets of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group in the area of the Syrian town of Jarablus, the Haberturk TV channel has reported.
The F-16 aircraft hit 12 targets, and the cross-border artillery fire destroyed another 70 targets, according to the report. The army is continuing operation against the IS in the town in northern Syria. The Turkish forces are using howitzers and multiple launch rocket systems.
Military sources say this is not the beginning of the Turkish ground operation in Syria although its special forces and armored formations are involved in clearing the town. They say the Turkish army only provides support to the Syrian forces fighting against the IS group.
Turkey’s TV channel NTV reported earlier that Turkey had officially informed Russia about the start of the operations in the north of Syria.
It is known that the "maroon berets" special forces and armored formations of Turkey have crossed the Turkish-Syrian border. Currently, only tank, artillery and air strikes are delivered on the terrorists’ positions.