Turkmen and Arab tribes will support the Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army's (FSA) fight to liberate the Daish-held towns of Dabiq and al-Bab. According to a report published in the Habertürk daily, FSA commanders reached out to Turkmen and Arab tribes to receive their backing in the upcoming battles with Daish in Dabiq and al-Bab. The report claims that the talks between the tribes and the FSA commanders were positive. An FSA commander said that the tribes would take action once the Turkey-backed FSA starts an offensive.
Previously, the PKK's Syrian affiliate the Democratic Union Party (PYD) abducted the sons of tribe leaders to prevent them from lending support to the FSA.
49 Daish targets hit, 9 FSA fighters killedThe Turkish army hit at least 49 DAESH targets in northern Syria on Thursday as part of the ongoing Operation Euphrates Shield, the military said on Friday. In a written statement, the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) said 49 Daish targets had been hit with 153 Firtina (storm) howitzer fire and 116 rounds of multiple rocket launchers.A total of 119 residential areas in nearly 1,010 square kilometers of northern Syria have been cleared of Daish since the beginning of the operation, the statement said.
More than 1,990 targets have been destroyed by over 7,701 rounds fired by Turkish howitzers so far. During the operation, nine FSA fighters were killed, while 32 others were injured. There were no casualties in the Turkish army, the military said.
In addition, Turkish jets destroyed 18 targets in airstrikes conducted in the region.
An undisclosed number of terrorists were killed, while 15 buildings used by Daish were destroyed in the operation, the statement added.
