Turkey shells Daesh positions in Syria

ANAKARA: Turkish armed forces shelled positions of Daesh in Syria in coordination with the US-led international anti-militant coalition, local media reported on Monday.

Turkish artillery fired 50 to 60 shells from howitzers positioned in its southern Kilis region against Daesh targets in the north of Syria’s Aleppo province, the private Dogan news agency reported.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that hostilities are continuing in parts of Syria, adding that he hopes the cease-fire can spread to the whole of the country.
During a visit to the Ivory Coast, Erdogan said: “There isn’t an overall cease-fire in the country and the attacks there are unfortunately, continuing from position to position.”
A fragile cease-fire has taken effect in Syria, but rebels are excluded from it.
It was the first attack in several weeks since Turkey, a member of the international coalition against Daesh, stuck rebel positions in Syria.
Turkish artillery have fired on Daesh targets in Syria and in Iraq after a deadly suicide attack in Istanbul’s tourist hub of Sultanahmet in January.
The cease-fire deal in Syria, brokered by Russia and the United States, has been in place since Friday midnight. UN chief Ban Ki-moon said there been some incidents but the cease-fire was generally holding.
The deal does not apply to territory held by Daesh and Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front.
Turkish artillery has fired Kurdish militia forces this month, saying it was responding to incoming fire.
Ankara said the Syria truce should have excluded the People’s Protection Units (YPG) militia.
However the United States works closely with the YPG as the best fighting force on the ground in northern Syria the battle against Daesh.