World Bulletin / News Desk

Turkish fighter jets have “neutralized” 20 ISIL extremists and hit dozens of other extremist targets in northern Syria as part of Operation Euphrates Shield, the Turkish military said on Thursday.

In an air operation targeting ISIL-held buildings in northern Syria, Turkish jets hit 59 targets, the Turkish Armed Forces said in a statement.

The targets included shelters, defensive positions, and command-and-control facilities, the statement added.

In addition, eight targets in the Al-Bab and Suflaniyah regions were hit by Turkish warplanes.

The Turkish military often uses the word "neutralized" to imply the extremists in question were captured, heavily wounded or killed.

Thursday marks the 114th day of the operation, which began in late August to improve security, support coalition forces, and eliminate the extrem threat along Turkey’s border using Free Syrian Army fighters backed by Turkish artillery, and jets.

Over 215 residential areas, including more than 1,800 square kilometers (694 square miles) of land in northern Syria have been cleared of ISIL extremists as part of the operation so far.