Turkey-backed FSA fighters 'largely' seize control of al-Bab-Manbij road

Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters have largely seized control of al-Bab-Manbij highway as a part of the ongoing Euphrates Shield operation in Syria, the Turkish Armed Forces stated on Dec. 9.

The military said in a statement that FSA fighters had mostly seized control of the highway, along with the Zarzur residential area, on the 108th day of the operation aimed at sweeping the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and other terrorist groups from the region.

Turkish warplanes also conducted an air operation in the region, destroying 10 ISIL targets, the statement added.

Three buildings, which had been turned into gun emplacements, four buildings used as a sanctuary and command center, and three checkpoints were destroyed in the air strikes.

According to military, the jihadist group also hid its armed terrorist elements in al-Bab near hospitals and public buildings to minimize the influence of FSA fighters in the region.