|
ANKARA, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- Turkish army hit 158 targets of Islamic State (IS) terrorists and neutralized 13 IS terrorists in the Al-Bab area of Northern Syria, Turkish General Staff stated on Tuesday.
Turkey's military often uses the word "neutralized" to imply the terrorists in question were captured, heavily wounded or killed.
Ankara has criticized international coalition forces for not doing enough to support Turkey in its offensive on al-Bab against the IS, calling especially for U.S. backing for the operation.
"These circles, which always level criticism at Turkey on IS, are not giving the necessary support for our struggle against IS in Azez, Jarablus, Dabiq and al-Bab. This is unacceptable," Turkish presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin told reporters on Monday.
In the past week, clashes and operations around al-Bab had gained intensity, he said, emphasizing that the Turkish Armed Forces had showed great sensitivity to avoid civilian casualties.
Some 1,900 square kilometers in northern Syria have been cleared of IS as part of the Operation Euphrates Shield, the spokesperson said.
During the past week, hundreds of IS targets have been eliminated, and 226 IS militants have been killed, Kalin stated.
Kalin added that Some 44,000 people have been evacuated from Aleppo and taken to Idlib, while Turkey aims to extend a cease-fire to all of Syria, Kalin said, citing an upcoming meeting in Astana where the issue will be discussed.
So far, approximately 200 people from eastern Aleppo have been brought to Turkey, he added.
Meanwhile, Turkey has sent an additional 500 commandoes to Syria's Al-Bab in order to help Turkish troops and Ankara-backed Syria rebels capture the town.
