48 rockets hit Turkey’s Kilis during Afrin operation: Governor

KİLİS – Anadolu Agency

Kilis Governor Mehmet Tekinarslan said on March 19 that Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) militants have fired a total of 48 rockets on the southeastern province of Kilis during Turkey’s ongoing “Operation Olive Branch” in Syria’s Afrin district.

Tekinarslan was speaking during a visit to Kilis of Turkish Parliamentarian Union President Nevzat Pakdil and members of parliament’s General Assembly.

“There is no state or army in the entire world that can carry out such an operation in such a short time and without any mistake,” Tekinarslan said in a joint news conference with Pakdil, adding that 48 rocket attacks were carried out on Kilis from across the border.

“Some 32 of them directly targeted mosques, schools, hospitals, restaurants and residences,” he said.

“Two civilians were killed and 38 others were wounded [in the attacks],” he added, stating that the Azez and Mare regions of Syria, within the area controlled by Turkey in the previous Euphrates Shield Operation, had been targeted by the YPG.   

“They have carried out these attacks using special ammunition, missiles and rockets,” Tekinarslan said.

“They fired 61 rockets on Azez, and 59 on Mare during the operation. Four people in Azez and one in Mare were killed,” he added.