Turkey-backed Syrian opposition forces besieging Daesh-controlled Al-Bab have gained full control of the highway linking the town to Aleppo with intense ground and air fire support, the Turkish military said today.
Three Turkish soldiers were killed in clashes near Al-Bab today, Turkey’s military said. Around 20 Turkish soldiers have been killed in the course of “Operation Euphrates Shield”, launched nearly four months ago, to push Daesh militants and Kurdish militia away from the border.
Eleven soldiers were wounded, one of them critically, and have been transported to hospital for treatment, the military said.
“Clashes are continuing in the area of Al-Bab town hospital, which has for a long time been a weapons and ammunition store for the terrorists,” the army said.
It said the area was closely protected by Daesh and was on the slope of a hill overlooking Al-Bab.
Earlier, the army said the Turkish-backed opposition groups had gained full control of the highway from Al-Bab to Aleppo and that Turkish warplanes had destroyed 48 Daesh targets and killed 15 militants. Four Turkish soldiers were slightly wounded when the vehicle they were travelling in was damaged by a roadside blast, it added.
Russia, Iran and Turkey are currently holding talks in Moscow to discuss the future of Syria following the fall of Aleppo to regime forces.
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