Ankara, Nov 27 (IANS): The Islamic State (IS) terror outfit carried out a chemical attack in northern Syria, leaving 22 opposition fighters wounded, officials from the Turkish army said on Sunday.

The General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces said the 22 opposition combatants had symptoms of chemical gas exposure following a missile attack by IS jihadists, Efe news agency reported.

The sources did not specify when the attack took place but indicated that IS used artillery shells filled with chlorine.

The wounded combatants from the Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army were transferred to a specialised unit of a hospital in the province of Kilis, which treats injuries caused by chemical, biological and radiological weapons.

The injured had nausea and severe headaches, which are the first symptoms of a chemical attack.

In a statement, the Turkish army also said that an opposition fighter died and 14 others were wounded in clashes against the Islamic State amid Operation Euphrates Shield, which was launched on August 24 to push the jihadists away from the Syrian side of the Turkish border.