Turkey launches anti-Islamic State operation in Syria

Extremist group has been blamed for a weekend attack on a Kurdish wedding that left 54 dead

Turkey's army on Wednesday launched a pre-dawn operation involving fighter jets and elite ground troops to drive Islamic State extremists out of a key Syrian border town.

The operation, the most ambitious launched by Turkey in Syria conflict, was backed by US-led coalition airstrikes. It is aimed at clearing extremists from the town of Jarablus which lies directly opposite the Turkish town of Karkamis, the prime minister's office said.