Efforts to try to claim control over the ISIS-held city of al-Bab have not gone well for Turkey, and as they continue to try offensive after offensive, heavy shelling and airstrikes are taking a growing toll on the civilian population of the city.
According to the most recent statement from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least 61 civilians have been killed in al-Bab strikes in the last six days of strikes. This included 13 children and a number of women.
Turkey has been making efforts to push into the city for well over a month, and had a presence on the city’s outskirts for nearly three months. In recent days, Turkish officials have said they have reached the city’s center, though the Observatory indicated ISIS still retains control over the bulk of the city.
Turkey’s official statements rarely include any casualties from anyone except ISIS, claiming large numbers of ISIS killed pretty much every day, but somehow not taking much of the city as a result. Beyond this, statements may mention Turkish soldiers or allied rebels killed, but never civilians.