The Turkish President has said the military operation to the northeast of the besieged city aims to secure the towns of Al-Bab and Manbij, and that they have no designs on Aleppo.<br /><br /> The comments come as a field commander allied to the Syrian regime warned Turkey that any move towards their positions would be met ‘decisively and with force.’<br /><br /> The Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Turkey was determined to continue with its operation whose ‘sole aim’ was to rid the area of ISIL militants, and will continue until Al-Bab is recaptured. He added that the area should be declared a safe zone so people can return.<br /><br /> It comes as Turkish-backed rebels battling ISIL militants to the north of Aleppo have been attacked by a suspected Syrian army helicopter.<br /><br /> Two rebels were killed and five were wounded, according to the Turkish military, in what appears to be the first direct hit on Turkish-backed forces since Ankara began operations over the Syrian border in August.<br />
