The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) has begun its cross-border “Euphrates Shield” operation against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) early on Aug. 24 with aerial strikes and ground forces backed by strikes from rocket launchers, howitzers and tanks.

Turkey-backed FSA fighters take control of Jarablus, state-run Anadolu Agency has reported. One FSA fighter was killed and 10 were wounded. There were no casualties from the Turkish Army. 7:00 p.m. - Free Syrian Army fighters have seized all government buildings in Jarablus and captured some 50 percent of the town, Doğan News Agency has reported. Meanwhile, Ahmad Othman, commander of the Sultan Mourad rebel group, told AFP from the scene that Jarablus was “completely liberated” from ISIL, adding that its militants had fled towards Al-Bab to the southwest.

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19:51

Turkey-backed FSA elements have begun to enter central Jarablus, state-run Anadolu Agency has reported.

Russian Foreign Ministry has said that it is `deeply worried` by events on Turkish-Syria border, Reuters has reported.

Free Syrian Army fighters backed by Turkish and U.S.-led coalition aerial support reach downtown Jarablus some 12 hours after the operation to clear ISIL from the area began. Most recently capturing the village of Tal Shair south of Jarablus, the fighters` battle with ISIL militants was ongoing. A Free Syrian Army commander says that ISIL militants were retreating south from Jarablus, CNN Türk reports.

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16:58

Sources reported that Turkish tanks in Syrian territories have blocked ISIL`s support routes and Turkish F-16s along with coalition jets have pounded ISIL vehicles headed from the al-Bab region to support ISIL militants fighting in the Jarablus area. Meanwhile some 5,000 Free Syrian Army fighters, including groups from the Sultan Murat Brigade, Sukur al-Jeber, Sham Front and Feylek al-Sham, were reportedly advancing toward central Jarablus.

Twenty tanks and nearly 20 armored vehicles are advancing toward Jarablus in the operation, aiming to secure control over a 70-kilometer region.

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16:14

The Turkish-backed rebels first captured the village of Keklice, which is situated 3km off the Turkish border, and then the village of Kivircik was cleared from ISIL. According to latest reports coming from Syria, two more villages have been liberated, Hurriyet reported.

Turkey launched the “Firat kalkani” operation at 04:00 to liberate Jarablus region from ISIL. 46 ISIL militants and three exlosive-laden vehicles have been eliminated up to now.

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