World Bulletin / News Desk

Turkish military has hit 38 ISIL targets with 101 artillery howitzer rounds and destroyed 16 other targets by carrying out jet strikes in northern Syria, the military announced Saturday.

In a statement, the Turkish General Staff said jets had carried out air campaigns against ISIL as part of the Operation Euphrates Shield in El Mutmainah, Ziyadah, Tal Atiyah, El Athariyyah and Sandarah, destroying 16 targets, including 12 buildings.

Saturday marked the 32nd day of Operation Euphrates Shield, which began last month and saw the Free Syrian Army, backed by Turkish military, take control of the city of Jarabulus from ISIL.

A total area of more than 900 square kilometers (347 miles) have been cleansed of extremists in northern Syria, according to the Turkish army.

Turkey has said Operation Euphrates Shield is aimed at bolstering border security, supporting coalition forces, and eliminating the threat posed by extrem organizations, especially ISIL.

The operation is in line with the country’s right to self-defense borne out of international treaties and a mandate given to Turkey’s armed forces by its parliament in 2014, which was extended for another year in September 2015.