Turkish tanks crossed the border into northern Syria Wednesday as part of "operations to clear ISIS terrorists "from the city of Jarabulus and to protect Turkey from the Islamic State and Kurds, Anadolu News Agency reported.
According to media reports, even more armored reinforcements have been dispatched to Gaziantep near the Turkey Syria border, including at least 80 Leopard tanks.
The invasion followed hours after the Turkish prime minister's office announced that the Turkish military and the U.S.-backed coalition forces have launched an operation called "Euphrates Shield" to clear a Syrian border town from Islamic State militants.
Erdogan said that the incursion had been prompted by cross-border attacks originating from Jarablus, stressing they “must stop,” according to Turkish state news agency Anadolu.
Turkish media reported earlier that IS had launched retaliation attacks into the Turkish border town of Karkamis after the violence around Jarablus escalated. The Turkish operation is focused on the Kurdish border town of Jarablus, which has been held by the Islamic State terrorist group since July of 2013.
The operation, called Euphrates Shield, is being supported by Turkish air forces, as well as warplanes from the US-led coalition.
