Battle of al-Bab

Control of an emptied road that separates the Ankara-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) from the forces of the Syrian regime in the south of Syria's al-Bab has been given to Turkish and Russian commanders on either side, with the aim of avoiding any confrontation, sources told daily Hürriyet.

Turkish troops and Turkey-backed Syrian rebels are conducting a cleaning up operation against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in al-Bab, which Turkey has been trying to liberate since December 2016 as part of its ongoing Euphrates Shield Operation, officials have said.

A total of 10 Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) suicide bombers were killed in fierce clashes with Ankara-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) members during an attack on a temporary base belonging to the Turkish army in northern Syria, the Turkish military has said. 

At least 26 Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants were killed, wounded or captured in northern Syria over the 24 hours up to the morning of Feb. 14, the Turkish military has stated.        

* A Russian war plane that took off from the Hmeymim air base in Syria hit a building southwest of the Syrian town of Al-Bab at around 08.40 a.m. on Feb. 9. 

I started the day with a question from a colleague about the situation in al-Bab. I have also been looking for an answer for days during talks with generals, ambassadors and representatives of the groups in the field. 

A strategic hill overlooking the Syrian town of al-Bab has been captured by the Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) while clashes have resumed for the town's control, the Turkish military said in a statement on Feb. 8.

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) is "completely besieged" in its last major stronghold in Syria's Aleppo province, a war monitor said on Feb. 6, after pro-regime forces cut a road on the south of the town, while the rest of it surrounded by Ankara-backed rebel forces.

Four "emirs" of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) were killed in the airstrikes carried out by Turkish warplanes in Syria as a part of the ongoing Euphrates Shield operation, the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) announced on Feb. 4. 

A total of 47 Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants were "neutralized" in the last 24 hours as part of the Euphrates Shield operation in northern Syria, the military announced on Feb. 3.      

Turkish authorities use the word "neutralized" to refer to militants who are killed, wounded or otherwise incapacitated.