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Syria's FSA forces gain full control of al-Bab from IS

Xinhua, February 25, 2017 Adjust font size:

Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) forces have gained full control over northern Syria's al-Bab from Islamic State (IS), Turkish military announced on Friday.

The clean-up work was ongoing clear obstacles, mines and explosives, the Turkish Chief of General Staff said in a statement.

The Turkey-backed operation took control over a total of 230 residential areas and a region of 1,925 square km, it added.

FSA forces have launched operations in cooperation with the Turkish military in al-Bab since Dec. 8 in 2016, surrounding the IS-held city from the northeast and the west.

The forces made advances into the town earlier this month.

Turkey and FSA rebels have been trying to capture al-Bab from IS as part of its ongoing Euphrates Shield operation, which was launched on Aug. 24, 2016, aiming at clearing the border with Syria of terrorist organizations.

Al-Bab is one of IS' last remaining strongholds near the Turkish border.

Capturing the city is of strategic importance to Turkey in order to prevent the Syrian Kurds from taking it and unifying their own territories. Endit