Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) forces launched a huge offensive to liberate the northern Syrian city of al Bab, a Daesh stronghold in the region.
The offensive was carried out under the Operation Euphrates Shield, which was launched on Aug 24, to clear southern Syrian cities and villages from the terrorist organizations Daesh and YPG, a Syrian affiliate of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK.
Since then, the FSA forces have cleared areas totaling 1,600 sq km, as the Turkish military-backed forces advanced 27 km inside Syria.
The operation to free al-Bab is considered the largest offensive of the Euphrates Shield Forces, as the city has a strategic role for the terror group.
Al-Bab is located northeast of Aleppo and southwest of Raqqa, Daesh's de facto capital in Syria.
The city is being used as an important transit point on the supply road to Raqqa.
Moreover, the PKK's Syrian branch YPG has also set its eyes on the city to link its self-announced canton areas.
New huge offensive took terrorists by surprise
FSA's blitzkrieg, backed by Turkish jets and aerial vehicles, shocked both Daesh and YPG.
Hours after the beginning of the al-Bab operation, FSA and Turkish military captured seven areas north of Raqqa and reached the northwest outskirts of the city.
Basri Süleyman, one of the commanders of the Sultan Fatih Brigade under FSA, said they would enter the city from three fronts “because Daesh can use the 'cage trap' method if we enter from only one front, as they applied it against PYD in Manbij."
Military sources said around 200 Daesh terrorists were believed to be fighting for the city in which around 55,000 civilians were currently living.
Sultan Murat Division Commander Mahmud Hadji Hasan told Yeni Şafak that terrorists could use civilians as public shields.
So the FSA's special fighters, who are well trained in city fighting, would enter the town, he added.
Daesh had reportedly made a two level security wall around the city to prevent the Turkish-backed forces' advance.
Heavy clashes are reported from outside the city.
Security sources said at least nine FSA fighters died and 4 Turkish soldiers and four FSA fighters were wounded when a rocket projectile fired from Daesh held-areas hit a military convoy.
Moreover, two opposition fighters were martyred and another was injured during a mine cleaning operation in the liberated Sinekli area, the sources said.
Turkey's F-16 fighter jets and military drones also supported the operation, as aircrafts resumed bombing in northern Syria on Saturday night after 23 days of suspension.
Additional tanks and armored vehicles were also deployed to the area, as part of the ground offensive.
Ankara said areas totaling around 5,000 sq km in northern Syria would be cleared from the terrorists group under the operation Euphrates Shield.
Turkey vowed not to allow a terror corridor, planned by PKK's Syrian branch YPG and its ally the United States, to exist in the area.
