One Turkish soldier killed, one wounded in northern Syria

GAZİANTEP

One Turkish soldier was killed, one other was wounded due to an Islamic State Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) attack during the ongoing Euphrates Shield operation in northern Syria on Feb. 11, according to a statement from Turkish Armed Forces.Meanwhile, at least 43 Islamic State Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants were "neutralized" in northern Syria in the last 24 hours as part of the ongoing Operation Euphrates Shield, according to a Turkish General Staff statement released early on Feb. 11.Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply the terrorist in question was either killed or captured.In addition, 245 ISIL targets, including the terror group’s shelters, headquarters, defense positions and vehicles were hit by Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters with Turkish Land Forces' support, the statement said.Turkish fighter jets also destroyed 55 buildings used as hideouts, two headquarters, two collecting points, a guard station, an arms depot, and a wireless station of the terrorist group.In a separate statement issued later on Saturday, the Turkish military said that a total of 223 ISIL militants and five PKK/PYD militants were "neutralized" in northern Syria as part of Turkish-backed Operation Euphrates Shield over the past week.The Turkish army is supporting FSA fighters in liberating Al-Bab, a strategic city for ISIL from the terrorist organisation. Feb. 10 marks the 172nd day since the city was surrounded in order to liberate it.