Will Turkey ask NATO for help defending against IS rockets?
Turkish citizens are calling on their government to boost its feeble response to IS shelling from Syria.
Kilis, with 130,000 inhabitants, is the Turkish town closest to the northern Syria region controlled by the Islamic State (IS). In Kilis, which hosts more Syrian refugees than its own population, 17 people have been killed and 62 wounded since January by rockets fired from Katyusha multiple-rocket launchers from Syria. The latest fatality was April 24.
Daily life in Kilis is now at a standstill because of the unpredictable attacks. Economic and educational activities have halted, albeit unofficially.
The people of Kilis are upset with continuing rocket attacks that have paralyzed their lives — and with what they see as the government’s nonchalant response. After the latest attack, inhabitants marched in the streets to demand that the governor resign and to protest the government's perceived passivity.
Ankara is having trouble explaining the rocket attacks, primarily because it is not used to them. Presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said the attacks could have been made by mistake. Asked whether the attacks suggest weak security, Kalin said, “There is chaos in Syria.” He added that there is no firm information that the attacks were intentional.
