TEHRAN (FNA)- Turkish President President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed on Wednesday that the aim of Ankara's military operation in Northern Syria is to eliminate threats from both the ISIL and the Kurds.Ankara announced early on Wednesday that Turkish forces, reinforced by US-led coalition aircraft, has begun a military operation to clear the Syrian border city of Jarabulus of the ISIL Takfiri terrorists.
"We started a military operation in Northern Syria at 4 a.m. this morning, aimed at eliminating the threats posed by Daesh (ISIL) and Syrian Kurds," President Erdogan said, adding that Turkey intends to put a stop to attacks on Turkish territory from neighboring Syrian regions.
"Turkey is ready to take joint steps both with the international coalition forces and with Russia," President Erdogan underlined.
Turkish special forces have also entered Syrian territory on Wednesday as Ankara began cross-border “Euphrates Shield” military operation against the ISIL group.
Arrival of Turkish soldiers came after the army of Turkey with the air support of the US-led coalition launched a military operation to liberate Jarabulus from the ISIL terrorists.
According to reports, Ankara has informed Moscow about launching a campaign to liberate the Syrian city of Jarablus from the ISIL.
CNN Turk also reported Wednesday citing military officials that Turkish battle tanks heaved over 200 projectiles hitting some 70 ISIL targets in the vicinity of the Syrian city of Jarablus. Meanwhile, the Turkish Air Force's F-16 jets struck 11 terrorist targets.
According to the Turkish television news channel citing military sources, the operation could last 15 days, and it aims to fully liberate Jarablus from ISIL and make a progress toward the Takfiri terrorist group's de facto capital of Raqqa.
The Turkish military launched strikes against the ISIL terrorist group, as well as the Kurdish forces of the People’s Protection Units (YPG) in Northern Syria on Monday.
According to NTV, The howitzer shelling struck ISIL targets near Jarabulus and Kurdish forces North of Manbij in Aleppo province.
Turkish officials announced that the strikes are aimed at opening a corridor for an operation.
Earlier on Monday, Ankara had vowed to completely cleanse militants from its border region in the wake of the suicide bombing attack that left over 54 people dead at a wedding over the weekend.
Turkish Foreign Minister said his country is determined to fight ISIL both inside Turkey and in Syria.
Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Monday Turkey would provide every kind of support that may be necessary to completely cleanse Turkey's border with Syria of the extremists.
The bloody incident in Gaziantep took place when people were dancing on the street at the wedding party.
The death toll from the attack increased to 54 on Monday, after three more victims died in hospital. Nearly 70 others were wounded.
An official said at least 22 victims of the attack in the Southeastern city of Gaziantep were children under the age of 14.