Dabiq

A member of the Turkey-backed FSA rebels makes victory sign before seizing Dabiq from ISIL yesterday.

Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters on Oct. 16 took control of the northern Syrian towns of Dabiq and Soran, located between Azaz and al-Rai, from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), according to FSA commanders.

Ankara-backed FSA fighters were trying to neutralize the bomb set ups that were set up by ISIL militants in the area, Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

Some 38 Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants were killed in northern Syria over the last 24 hours, the Turkish military said on Oct. 9, marking an escalation of conflict in the area where Syrian rebels, backed by Ankara, are fighting the jihadists. 

Operation Euphrates Shield, the code name for Turkey's military operation in Northern Syria against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), started well on Aug. 24 with minimal loss of life among Turkish soldiers and their Free Syrian Army (FSA) allies.

A statement by the Turkish military on the morning of Oct. 3 said 15 members of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) had been killed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) while on their way to take the Syrian town of Dabiq from ISIL occupation.