TURKISH war planes blitzed Islamic State (Isis) terrorists occupying the town of al-Bab yesterday, with forces allied to Ankara just two miles from the Syrian town.

The Turkish Andalou news agency reported 15 air strikes on the town, claiming that they had destroyed two command centres, an arms depot and two buildings used as headquarters, as well as 10 defensive positions.

Other sources reported that Turkish tanks deployed in the north of Aleppo province as part of the Ankara’s “Operation Euphrates Shield” invasion of Syria were shelling al-Bab.

Turkish-backed factions under the Free Syrian Army (FSA) banner clashed with Isis fighters north of the town.

Al-Bab is a key Turkish objective as its capture would prevent the Kurdish YPG militia in Afrin to the west from creating a continuous zone of control with their stronghold of Kobane.

One FSA source claimed that Turkish artillery had shelled YPG guerillas yesterday as they approached the Isis-held village of Tall al-Jijan, 10 miles west of al-Bab, to prevent them advancing towards the town.

On Sunday, the pro-YPG ANHA news agency reported that Isis had given up villages north of al-Bab to the Turks and the FSA without a fight, as the extremist group seemingly did in the border town of Jarabulus at the start of the invasion two months ago.

Taking al-Bab would also put the FSA in a position to launch an offensive against the city of Aleppo.

The Syrian Defence Ministry said on Sunday that four residents of government-defended west Aleppo had been killed by insurgent shelling, while dozens of civilians and troops needed hospital treatment following a chlorine gas attack.