Turkey carries out 100 deadly airstrikes on ISIS targets in Syria in retaliation for Istanbul New Year nightclub attack that left 39 dead
TURKISH forces have slammed ISIS in more than 100 aerial attacks barely 24 hours after the terrorist cell claimed responsibility for the bloody Istanbul nightclub shooting.
At least 39 people were killed, with dozens more injured, when a gunman stormed into the popular Turkish nightclub during New Year's celebrations - with the jihadi group since taking responsibility for the deadly attack.
Footage of air attacks against ISIS have surfaced just a day after the fatal shooting - with rockets destroying ISIS hideouts near the towns of al-Bab, Tadif and Bzagah in the north of war-torn Syria.
More than 20 extremists were reportedly killed in the attack that saw buildings crumble to the ground.
Russia was also involved in the heavy air strikes, with jets targeting Dayr Kak, southwest of Al Bab.
The aerial revenge comes after the attack on the nightclub was condemned worldwide, with New Year's Eve revellers forced to run for their lives from the gunman, who shot indiscriminately into the crowd.
In a statement released just a day after the attack, ISIS said: “In continuation of the blessed operations that Islamic State is conducting against the protector of the cross, Turkey, a heroic soldier of the caliphate struck one of the most famous nightclubs where the Christians celebrate their apostate holiday.”
Turkish police have now detained eight people in connection with the attack – although the gunman is reportedly not among those in custody.
Authorities have launched a wide manhunt for the shooter involved in the attack, with witnesses saying the killer smiled at them as he blasted his way into the nightclub.
Turkey is now in mourning after the horrific attack with the first funerals taking place.
Police in Turkey have released the first pictures of the prime suspect in the New Year's nightclub attack. The unnamed man - believed to be a member of ISIS - is described as being from East Turkestan, Afghanistan or Chechnya.
Turkish interior minister Suleyman Soylu said: "The search for the terrorist continues... I hope (the killer) will be captured quickly, God willing.
"This was a massacre, a truly inhuman savagery."
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has warned Brits in the country to remain “vigilant” and heed the advice of authorities.
Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey would fight to the end against all forms of attack by terror groups and their backers.
"As a nation, we will fight to the end against not just the armed attacks of terror groups and the forces behind them, but also against their economic, political and social attacks," Erdogan said in a written statement.
"They are trying to create chaos, demoralise our people, and destabilise our country with abominable attacks which target civilians ... We will retain our cool-headedness as a nation, standing more closely together, and we will never give ground to such dirty games," he added.
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