Shots fired from Syria kill Turkish soldier

Attack comes from Islamic State-controlled area as Ankara steps up its strikes on jihadist forces across border

By AP 2 September 2015, 1:55 am

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A picture taken from the Turkish side of the border with Syria shows a Turkish soldier watching as smoke rises from the Syrian town of Kobani, on June 27, 2015. (Bulent Kilic/AFP)

ANKARA, Turkey — The military says a Turkish soldier was killed from shots fired from Islamic State-controlled area across the border in Syria. A second soldier is reported missing.

The military said the incident occurred Tuesday at a border post near the town of Kilis. The soldier disappeared following a clash between the soldiers and the assailants.

On Saturday, Turkey announced that its fighter jets carried out their first airstrikes as part of the US-led coalition against IS, attacking extremist targets deemed to be a threat to Turkey.

Turkey agreed to take on a more active role against the radical group in July following a suicide bombing, blamed on IS, which killed 33 people near the Turkish-Syrian border and an attack on Turkish troops guarding the border, which killed one soldier.