Kilis mayor says ISIL rockets aimed at Deputy PM

KİLİS – Doğan News Agency

DHA photo

The main target of rockets fired the by Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) on April 24 was the Kilis Governor’s Office building and Deputy Prime Minister Yalçın Akdoğan, who was visiting the southeastern border province at the time, according to Kilis Mayor Hasan Kara, who called on the town’s residents who have left over mounting security concerns to return. 

“Leaving Kilis is not the solution. We should be hand in hand, arm in arm to protect Kilis. We should not play into the hands of ISIL, the hands of terrorists, by falling into chaos, fear and panic, which is what terror wants,” said Kara, as the town, which currently hosts more Syrian refugees than its Turkish population, has recently been a target of ISIL rockets fired from Syria. 

Eleven Turkish citizens and seven Syrians have been killed in rocket attacks since Jan. 18 in the province, which is now faced with a new wave of migration. 

“Lastly, a rocket hit Tekke Mosque. After this attack, the possibility of being hit by a second rocket was high. We have received information in this regard. I think ISIL’s target was Deputy Prime Minister Yalçın Akdoğan and the building of the governor’s office. Because it [the rocket] fell very close to it, hit very close. It came at a time when we were holding a meeting,” said Kara. 

The mayor also added that leaving Kilis was not the solution and that the town should be kept secure and run securely. 

“Just like how our people stood up when the French came to invade with great powers, today we should also show that we stand up and protect Kilis by standing next to each other, arm in arm the same way,” said Kara, calling on those who have fled to return.