Anti-IS Coalition intensifies airstrikes in NW Syria

ERBIL (K24) - The American-led anti-IS coalition targeted the Islamic State group on Friday with 13 air strikes near Marea, an IS-controlled town some 25 kilometers south of Turkish border, according to a statement released online on Saturday by the US Combined Joint Task Force leading the operation.

Intensified air operations near the border area with Turkey coincides with last Tuesday remarks by the US Secretary of State John Kerry in which he said that they are "entering an operation with the Turks" to shut off the remaining 98 kilometers of the Syrian - Turkish border controlled by IS. Meanwhile, the Turkish Foreign Minister said on Wednesday that they "have been conducting an air operation in that region with the U.S.”

Marea that is 40 kilometers north of the city of Aleppo is in the area between the northern Syrian border towns of the IS-controlled Jarablus and the rebel-held Azaz where Turkey has long been demanding a "safe zone" to be set up by the international forces.

Elsewhere in Syria the coalition conducted nine airstrikes in Abu Kamal, Al Hasakah, Al Hawl, ArRaqqah and DayrArZawr where various targets, including fighting positions, tactical units, buildings, and vehicles were destroyed.

Separately in Iraq, coalition forces conducted 20 strikes near Sultan Abdallah, Sinjar, Ramadi, Qayyarah, Mosul, Kisik, Bayji and Albu Hayat and destroyed dozens of IS targets.