Turkey: PYD/PKK rockets target civilians in Hatay

By Cem Genco

HATAY, Turkey (AA) - A civilian living in a district near Turkey’s border with Syria was injured late Wednesday by rocket fire from Syrian-based PYD/PKK terrorists.

Three rockets fired from Syria’s Afrin by PYD/PKK terrorists hit Turkey’s border province of Hatay.

One rocket landed in Degirmen Karsi neighborhood in the province’s Reyhanli district, leaving one civilian injured.

Two other rockets hit a house and an empty area in Gultepe neighborhood in Reyhanli, according to an Anadolu Agency correspondent on the ground. No causalities were reported.

The injured civilian was taken to the hospital while police, firefighters and paramedics rushed to the scene.

The attacks come amid a Turkish-led operation across the border in Syria to snuff out the terrorist threat there.

Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch on Jan. 20 to clear PYD/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin in northwestern Syria.

Since the onset of the operation, the PYD/PKK has carried out cross-border attacks on Turkey by firing rockets on civilian neighborhoods.

According to the Turkish General Staff, Operation Olive Branch aims to establish security and stability along Turkish borders and the region as well as to protect Syrians from terrorist oppression and cruelty.

The operation is being carried out under the framework of Turkey’s rights based on international law, UN Security Council resolutions, its self-defense rights under the UN Charter, and respect for Syria's territorial integrity.