Smoke rises from an IS controlled Syrian village near the Turkish-Syrian border on Aug. 24, 2016. The Turkish army launched on Wednesday a cross-border operation to drive out Islamic State (IS) terrorist militants, the prime minister's office said in a statement. (Xinhua/Mert Macit)

ANKARA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- As many as 46 Islamic States (IS) militants have been killed so far in Turkey's operation in northern Syria, Dogan News agency reported on Wednesday.

Turkey-backed Syrian rebels, the Free Syrian Army (FSA), have now taken four villages in northern Syrian, Dogan said.

Turkish jets and tanks along with howitzers are reportedly still barraging IS targets in Jarablus in northern Syria. It was the first time for Turkish F-16s to enter Syrian airspace since a Russian jet was shot down last November.

A statement issued by the prime minister's office said the cross-border operation was aimed at driving out IS terrorist militants.

The "Euphrates Shield" operation, which began at 4 a.m. local time (0100 GMT), aims to expunge Turkish borders of terrorist groups, enhance border security and uphold Syria's territorial integrity, the statement said.

Preventing another influx of migrants and delivering necessary aid to the region's civilian population are also among the operation's goals, Turkish officials said.

In Damascus, the Syrian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday condemned the Turkish intervention, saying any anti-terror efforts should be coordinated with the Syrian government.

Turkey's special forces entered Jarablus, a border town inside Syria, under the cover of Turkish air force and the U.S.-led coalition, military sources told Turkish Daily Sabah newspaper.

According to military sources, 81 targets were destroyed by artillery fire and tanks stationed on Turkish soil.

At a news conference in Ankara, President Recep Erdogan confirmed the start of the "Euphrates Shield" operation.

On Tuesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu said Turkey is prepared to provide all forms of support to the Jarablus operation in order to free the town from the grip of the IS.

Turkey's Hurriyet newspaper, citing undisclosed military sources, said a ground offensive has not yet begun, but efforts are underway to forge a "passageway" into the region.