Turkish jets attack IS in Syria after border town hit by rockets

ISTANBUL, Turkey – Turkish fighter jets hit Islamic State targets in Syria after two rocket strikes injured nine people in the border town of Kilis on Thursday.

Sources told the Reuters news agency that many militants were "neutralised" in the Turkish response, which was launched after the second missile fell in Kilis. 

The first rocket injured seven, while the second injured an eighth. Both were fired from Syria, matching previous attacks on the town by IS.

According to local residents, the first rocket landed 50m away from a busy populated market square in the town. 

The nationalities of the injured remained unclear. Kilis is home to a large number of Syrian refugees.

Resit Polat, an MP representing Kilis from the AKP party, told CNN Turk that three Syrian citizens were among the injured.

"Our armed forces are taking the necessary action and will continue to do so," he said. "God willing, we will clear the al-Bab region of Daesh shortly too and rid ourselves of this menace."

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The last fatality in Kilis from an IS attack was on 29 August, when a Syrian child called Muhammed Nursefer was killed. Polat said that more than 20 people had been killed in rocket attacks on the town since 18 January.

We will clear the Al-Bab region of Daesh shortly too and rid ourselves of this menace

- Resit Polat, MP

The Turkish military launched an incursion called Euphrates Shield into Syria on 24 August to clear its border area of IS and Kurdish militants.

The operation gradually expanded and another front was launched near the town of Al-Rai (Known as Cobanbey in Turkish.) The plan is to create a safe zone along Turkey's southern border, which will involve liberating the town of Al-Bab from IS-using Free Syrian Army rebels.

Turkish authorities say the operation will continue until all threats to Turkey and its citizens are fully eliminated. Before Euphrates Shield, the Turkish military would simply direct artillery fire at IS positions from where rockets were fired into Turkey.