Turkey-backed FSA launches 3rd phase of Euphrates Shield in N Syria

Free Syrian Army fighters, backed by Turkish military, launched the third phase of the Operation Euphrates Shield to liberate the northern Syrian city of Al-Bab from the Daesh terrorist group.

After a week of the Muslims' Eid al-Adha festival, the Turkish military-backed operation resumed on Friday, liberating several villages, including Baragidah, Kafar Ghan and Tathmus, in the west of Al-Rai / Cobanbey.

Al-Bab is the key city north of Aleppo that has been held by the terror group since 2013, as Daesh was reportedly gathering its fighters with heavy weapons against the probable operation.

Meanwhile Turkish Storm (Fırtına) howitzers (new long-ranged artillery tanks) were shelling Daesh positions east of Azaz, while military jets pounded Baragidah and Karafgan villages early on Friday.

Another report said that more army tanks and armored vehicles belonging to the Turkish military had entered Hawar Kilis village near Azas town.

But on Friday, a convoy of Daesh terrorists, including some buses carrying their family members, were reportedly heading to Raqqa from Al-Bab.