ANKARA, August 24. /TASS/. The Turkish army’s operation in Syria’s Jarablus is aimed against the terrorist group Islamic State (outlawed in Russia) and the Democratic Union party of Syria’s Kurds, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday.

"Security forces last night launched an operation in northern Syria against such terrorist organizations threatening our country as the Islamic State and the Democratic Union. Attacks from the other side of the border against us must be brought to an end," he said in Ankara. Turkey regards the Democratic Union party as terrorist.

Earlier Turkish Foreign Minister Efkan Ala said that since Tuesday nine artillery shells fired by militants from Syria’s city of Jarablus landed in Turkish territory.

Turkish tanks cross border with Syria

HaberTurk TV Channel reports that armored units of the Turkish army have crossed into Syria and are delivering fire against objectives of the IS.

The TV channel is reporting about 10-15 tanks that have advanced towards the town of Jarabulus. Before the Turkish armor has crossed into Syria, the Turkish Air Force delivered air strikes in the border area. The strikes targeted IS facilities.

Paramilitary forces of the Syrian opposition have crossed the Turkey-Syria border right behind Turkish army’s tanks, Al Jazeera TV reports. 

According to the TV network, the Syrian opposition forces were heading for the town of Jarablus.

Based on available information, among the forces that had penetrated the border are the Free Syrian Army units, which have moved up to 3 kilometers deep into Syria’s territory.