Free Syrian Army surrounds al-Bab town in Islamic State fight

Feb. 8 (UPI) -- Turkey's military on Wednesday said the Free Syrian Army has captured strategic hills overlooking the Syrian town of al-Bab in the fight against the Islamic State.

Turkey's General Staff said at least two Turkish soldiers have died and 58 Islamic State militants have been killed in the previous 24 hours.

The FSA, which is backed by Turkey and also opposes the Assad regime, surrounded al-Bab on all sides. Clashes between the FSA and the Islamic State for control of the town in northern Syira continue, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said during a press conference on Wednesday.

The FSA operation began on Tuesday with Turkish artillery and airstrike support, and on Wednesday the rebels began advancing toward the center of al-Bab. The FSA and Turkey are in contact with Russian authorities to avoid clashes with the Assad regime as they focus to eliminate the Islamic State, the Turkish military said.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Wednesday said after al-Bab is captured, the operation would move to capturing Raqqa, the Islamic State's stronghold in Syria. He said Turkey hopes to better coordinate efforts with U.S. President Donald Trump's administration.

"We should and can insert special forces into Raqqa," Cavusoglu said. "Unfortunately, the previous U.S. administration didn't cooperate with us, but we hope to work better with this one."