Turkey carried out airstrikes against three Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) targets in Syria early this morning.
Three Turkish F-16 fighter jets took off from the 8th Main Jet Base in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır at 3:12 a.m. and hit two ISIL headquarters and one rallying point inside Syria with guided missiles from 3:40 a.m. to 3:53 a.m., Turkish Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.
ISIL targets were located near the Havar village of Syria, which is across the Turkish city of Kilis on the border, according to Doğan News Agency.
Private broadcaster CNNTürk reported that the Turkish jets launched their missiles from Turkey, without entering the Syrian airspace.
The decision was taken at a special security meeting in Ankara late July 23, hours after the clash on the border.
“The state of the Republic of Turkey is decisive in taking any precaution to safeguard its national security,” the official statement confirming the airstrikes said on July 24, adding that the Turkish F-16s returned to their bases at 4:24 a.m.
Hurriyet
