Turkey-backed rebels closed in on an Islamic State-held city in northern Syria on Friday, foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said, with Turkish tanks and warplanes supporting the assault, APA reports quoting Reuters.
Hundreds of Arab and Turkmen fighters seized at least two villages west of al-Bab, the rebels said. The city is of strategic importance to Turkey, partly because Kurdish-dominated militias have also been trying to take it from the jihadists.
Turkish state media said late on Thursday that Ankara had sent 300 commandos to northern Syria to reinforce "Euphrates Shield", the operation it launched three and a half months ago to push both Islamic State and Kurdish fighters back from the border.
"With our help, rebels have closed in on al-Bab," Cavusoglu said in comments published on state broadcaster TRT's website. "The operation here is expected to be completed soon."
The Turkish army said its air strikes on Friday morning destroyed 34 Islamic State targets, including militant bases, shelters, vehicles mounted with guns and ammunition depots. It hit 10 targets the day before.
The military also said the rebels it backs had seized control of a highway between al-Bab and Manbij, a town some 50 km (30 miles) to the east.
"There is a major assault under way," said a fighter with the Turkmen Sultan Murad brigade, speaking from inside Syria. "God willing we will break (IS) resistance this time. Very powerful troops were sent last night."
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