Top soldier visits border troops as jets hit ISIL

Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar visited Kilis on the border with Syria on Nov. 23, as Turkey hit 17 Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) targets as part of Ankara's Euphrates Shield Operation. 

Three Turkish soldiers were slightly hurt following an ISIL attack during the Ankara-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) operations near Aleppo province's al-Bab city in Syria, a hospital source said, according to state-run Anadolu Agency. 

After landing at Gaziantep Airport in the early hours of the morning, Akar, accompanied by Land Forces Commander Gen. Salih Zeki Çolak, headed to Kilis by helicopter.

Akar first visited Kilis Gov. İsmail Çataklı at the governor's office, in a meeting that lasted around 50 minutes.
He later headed to the Elbeyli district along the border with Syria to conduct inspections of troops on the border. He was also briefed on the ongoing Euphrates Shield operation in northern Syria which is in its 92nd day.

Tight security measures were taken for the general's visit.

Akar, accompanied by force commanders, last visited the border on Nov. 10, in Şırnak. 

The general's visit came after the Turkish Army announced in a statement that the Turkish Armed Forces had hit 17 ISIL targets, including four shelters and two command-and-control centers, in northern Syria on Nov. 22 and Nov. 23.  

FSA special task force soldiers, backed by Turkey, continued land-based attacks to control areas east and west of the city of al-Bab, the military said.      
  
The moves are part of Euphrates Shield Operation, which began in late August to rid Syria's northern border area of militants. 

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