The Turkish military on Tuesday launched artillery strikes against terrorist Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) targets in the Syrian city of Jarabulus as Turkish authorities ordered the evacuation of residents from Karkamis, a town that sits across the border from the city.
The military struck ISIL positions with Firtina artillery after shells from ISIL-held Jarabulus recently landed in various locations in and around Karkamis. The military has been carrying out retaliatory strikes against the radical group since last week.
The media is talking of a rebel attack against Jarabulus from Karkamis, in Turkish territory. A Syrian rebel in the town told reporters that 1,500 rebel fighters had moved to Karkamis for the Jarabulus operation.
In media reports seemingly confirming this, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Turkey will give whatever support is needed to the rebels to launch an attack against Jarabulus and to clear the border of ISIL elements.