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More Turkish tanks cross into Syria

Xinhua, August 25, 2016 Adjust font size:

At least 10 more Turkish tanks crossed the border into Syria on Thursday, joining an anti-Islamic State (IS) operation by the Turkish military and U.S.-led coalition forces, local media reported.

Turkish tanks and construction machinery were deployed from units in Karkamis, a Turkish town across the border with Syria, CNN Turk reported.

The tanks had reportedly only entered up to two kilometers inside Syria before returning to Turkish territory, reports said.

Earlier on Wednesday, 15 to 20 tanks and armored vehicles crossed the border following artillery shelling and airstrikes by Turkish and coalition aircraft as part of "Operation Euphrates Shield."

Turkish soldiers, including some from mechanized units and special forces, participated in the operation to help Ankara-back Syrian rebels to flush IS militants from Jarablus, a Syrian town south of the border with Turkey.

Along with coalition air support, 17 Turkish planes are taking part in the operation, including 11 F-16s.

In addition to fighting IS militants, the Turkish operation also aims to drive members of the People's Protection Units (YPG), the Syrian affiliate of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), to the east bank of the Euphrates, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said. Endit