Syrian succumbs to wounds in SE Turkey rocket attack

By Izzet Mazi

KILIS, Turkey

A Syrian national who got wounded seriously by a rocket fired from Syria in Turkey's southern Kilis province Sunday succumbed to his wounds at a hospital Monday, unnamed hospital sources in the province told Anadolu Agency.

23-year-old Fadil Emin received the wounds when a rocket landed on a residential area, according to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media.

On Sunday, 36-year-old Fatma Demir was killed and 10 others were injured in a rocket attack reportedly fired by Daesh terrorist organization from Syria. While one rocket had landed on a residential area, the other struck a mosque yard.

Also on Monday, a group of traders in Kilis pulled down the shutters of their shops for a day in protest against the recent rocket attacks from Syria.

Mehmet Nuri Korkmaz, head of Yeni Kucuk Sanayi Sitesi Building Society, said: "More than 40 rocket projectiles have been fired on Kilis during the last four months."

The main aim of the protests is to make the voices of Kilis tradesmen heard, not to destroy public institutions, Korkmaz said.

"We don't support provocative actions. We want the government to ensure our safety in Kilis. Our children have been depressed. This is not a political action," he said.

The protests, which was supported by majority of the tradesmen in the area, passed off without any incident.

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Yalcin Akdogan said Sunday that since Jan. 18, 45 rockets struck Kilis, killing 16 citizens and injuring 62 others.

Kilis lies six kilometers (four miles) from the Syrian border and has been repeatedly hit by rockets fired from Daesh-controlled territory in Syria. Eight have been killed in the province by rockets since Monday.

*Anadolu Agency correspondent Sibel Ugurlu contributed to this report from Ankara.