The Free Syrian Army (FSA) and Turkish military has entered the center of Syria's strategic town of al-Bab on Thursday, Defense Minister Fikri Işık said.
Işık told reporters that Turkey-backed FSA forces have taken almost complete control of al-Bab from Daesh and are working to clear mines and explosives.
Earlier on Thursday, the Turkish military said in a statement that the FSA forces have taken control over most of the town and have liberated two more districts from Daesh terrorists.
Later in the day, FSA forces announced on Thursday that they have taken full control of al-Bab.
"We are announcing al-Bab as being completely liberated, and we are now clearing mines from the residential neighborhoods," Ahmad Othman, commander of the Sultan Mourad opposition group told the AFP.
The FSA released drone footage later in the day showing the current situation in the city.
Also, according to an Anadolu Agency (AA) correspondent in al-Bab, the town center has been entirely cleared of Daesh terrorists as part of Turkey's ongoing Operation Euphrates Shield.Free Syrian Army releases drone footage after liberating strategically important al-Bab town from Daesh terroristshttps://t.co/E7mr3Pfp07 pic.twitter.com/RHsiYNS62s
— DAILY SABAH (@DailySabah) February 23, 2017
At least 2,852 Daesh terrorists, and 357 PKK/PYD terrorists have been killed since the beginning of the operation, while 2,207 positions belonging to the terrorists have been destroyed by Turkish artillery and airstrikes.