Turkish forces and the U.S.-led coalition warplanes launched an operation early Wednesday in the Jarablus region of north Syria to clear its borders from the Islamic State (IS), Turkish state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

Beginning at around 4 a.m.(0100 GMT), Turkish forces dispatched warplanes and artillery during the operation, aiming to clear the Turkish borders from terrorist elements, halt the new wave of refugees, and deliver humanitarian aid to civilians in Jarablus, the last significant town held by the militant group near the border between Syria and Turkey.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Tuesday that Turkey would provide all kinds of support for military operations in Jarablus.

Hours before the operation, the Turkish border town of Karkamis was attacked by a series of mortar shells fired from Syria, and many locals were forced to evacuate.

Earlier on Monday, Cavusoglu said the IS militants must be totally pushed from the Syrian border region, amid reports suggesting that Syrian rebels were preparing to launch an attack to seize Jarablus.