Turkish Army Starts Operations Against Syria to Secure Border
- Operation gets air support from U.S., approval from Russia
- Offensive enables Free Syrian Army to capture town of Jarablus
A Turkish army tank and an armored vehicle stationed near the border with Syria on Aug. 23.
Source: IHA via AP PhotoThis article is for subscribers only.
Turkey launched its biggest military operation in Syria to force Islamic State militants away from its border and deter further advances by Syrian Kurds allied with Turkish separatists.
Airstrikes pounded Islamic State positions and Turkish tanks crossed the frontier, allowing the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army to win control of the strategic town of Jarablus, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported. Turkey will continue operations in Syria until imminent threats to national security have been neutralized, a Turkish official said, asking not to be named in line with administration policy.