Turkey has launched military operation “Peace Spring” at 4 p.m, (local time).

According to the President Tayyip Erdogan, the offensive aimed to eliminate a “terror corridor” along the southern Turkish border.

“Our mission is to prevent the creation of a terror corridor across our southern border, and to bring peace to the area”, - wrote Erdogan in Twitter. “We will preserve Syria’s territorial integrity and liberate local communities from terrorists. Operation “Peace Spring” would aim to eliminate threats from the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia and the Islamic State militants, and enable the return of Syrian refugees in Turkey after the formation of a “safe zone” in the area”.

The first explosions were broadcast live by Turkey"s CNN.