Turkey kills 44 IS militants in Syria

Rebels supported by Turkish troops have laid siege to the Syrian town of al-Bab for weeks under the "Euphrates Shield" operation, killing 44 IS militants.

File image of Turkish soldiers preparing for a military operation at the Syrian border as part of their offensive in Karkamis district of Gaziantep, Turkey. Source: EPA

The Turkish military says it has "neutralised" 44 Islamic State militants and wounded 117 as part of its operation in the northern Syrian town of al-Bab.

In a statement, the military also said seven rebels had been wounded in clashes over the past day, while 154 Islamic State targets had been struck by artillery and other weaponry.

Rebels supported by Turkish troops have laid siege to al-Bab for weeks under the "Euphrates Shield" operation launched by Turkey nearly four months ago to sweep the Sunni hardliners and Kurdish fighters from its Syrian border.