Turkey, along with the United States-led International Coalition Air Forces, launched a joint operation on Wednesday in its bid to wipe out Islamic State group militants from Jarablus area along the Syrian border, reported Reuters. The raid, which started with artillery firing around 4 am (local time), is the first attack from Turkey this year.

The Turkish military said their special forces were inside Syria by Wednesday morning. While warplanes struck 12 Islamic State target after it began attacking from 6 am (local time), tanks were later seen moving up to the border and opening fire. According to Turkish media, as many as 224 rounds were fired at 63 targets within an hour and 45 minutes. However, officials said a ground incursion is yet to start.

A Turkish military official told Reuters, "The aim of the operation is to ensure border security and Syria's territorial integrity while supporting the US-led coalition against the Islamic State group." The operation has been launched after a bomb attack killed more than 50 people of a wedding party in Gaziantep on Saturday. Turkey holds the Islamic State group responsible for the attack.

Turkey is also concerned about the growing influence of Syrian Kurdish militant groups. According to BBC, Turkey is targeting such forces in the region to prevent them from creating an autonomous area close to the border that may fan separatist ideas within Turkey.