ISIS gangs suffering heavy losses at the hands of YPG fighters are continuing to attack civilians. Mortars have been fired at many of the villages along the border, from Merdisimêl to Boydê. Three civilians have been injured in these attacks and many houses have been damaged.

ISIS gangs are continuing to fire mortars at villages along the border with Kobanê. The villages of Merdisimêl, Elîzêr, Zehwan, Bedhê, Dewşen and Qestung to the east of Suruç and Boydê to the west have all been frequently targeted.

3 wounded in Zehwan

A mortar fired at the village of Zehwan struck a house. Three people in the house were injured and were taken to the Suruç State Hospital.  After the attack, soldiers came to the village and asked the inhabitants to evacuate the village. The village has now been evacuated.

‘Governor did not give order to return fire'

While several mortar shells have landed in Merdisimêl, it is claimed that a soldier was wounded when a shell landed near the military post on the border close to the village. Local inhabitants carrying out a vigil at the border spoke to military officers, at the border with tanks and armoured vehicles, who told citizens arguing that rules of engagement had been violated that, "we have not received orders from the Governor to return fire." The people are continuing their vigil at the border.

Houses hit in Bedhê

Mortars have also been fired at the village of Bedhê, near Merdisimêl.  Some houses were hit and some vehicles of HDP MPs were slightly damaged. The village of Qestung has also been hit by 3 mortar shells, one of which did not explode. Mortars have also been fired at the village of Boydê to the west of Suruç.

Aim is to empty the border area

Turkey is content to watch the mortar attacks by ISIS gangs. Attention has been drawn to the fact that mortars have hit villages where there is a vigil for Kobanê. The aim of the attacks is the evacuation of the area and the setting up of a buffer zone. For this reason Turkey is ignoring the attacks, and has already stated publicly that it wishes to establish a buffer zone.