Erdogan: Turkish forces reach center of ISiS-held Al-Bab

Military sources tracking the months’ old Turkish offensive to capture the northern Syrian town of A-Bab from ISIS occupation affirm that their troops have reached the town’s outskirts – not yet the center, as President Tayyip Erdogan claimed Sunday. Ankara puts out periodic reports of battle successes against the Islamic State’s last stronghold in the Aleppo region. DEBKAfile’s military experts say that Turkey’s failure to overcome the jihadists in nearly three months of fighting raises questions about its army’s professional competence – especially after the failed military coup eight months ago and subsequent purge of generals.