Local people have confirmed reports of direct Turkish state support for the gangs attacking Kobanê. Residents of villages in Kobanê canton have explained how thousands of ISIS gang members were brought to the border in buses on the night of 14 September and allowed to cross into Rojava under Turkish military supervision.

Ahmed Hesen ve Feredun Qeremox, who came to Suruç following the ISIS attacks, said they had witnessed arms, logistics and personnel crossing the border a day before the attack on Kobanê began on 15 September.

A day before the attack thousands of ISIS crossed the border

Ahmet Hesen from the village of Yapsê and Feredun Qeremox from the village of Dinayikê, who were forced to leave their villages by the ISIS attacks and take refuge in Suruç, said they had seen thousands of people crossing the border. Ahmed Hesen said the village of Yapsê was located near Akçakale, adding: "On the night of 14 September a large number of buses approached the wire fence. Up to 3,000 people with beards and wearing robes crossed through the fence to join ISIS." Hesen claimed these people had crossed the border under Turkish military supervision, adding that he had witnessed this from close by.

'Weapons were brought from Arab villages'

Ferudun Qeremox from the village of Dinayikê said that around midnight on 14 September 6 vehicles containing people in civilian clothes had crossed the border and gone to nearby Arab villages. An hour later weapons and logistic materials were delivered to the same villages on the Baghdad railway line.

Qeremox said the people who had passed through their village were ISIS members, adding: "the gangs bring personnel and weapons across the border under the supervision of the Turkish army. We have witnessed it many times. On this occasion it was a day before the attacks began."