HDP: 12 Civilians Killed in Border Town During Syria Offensive

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Twelve civilians have been killed in Mardin during Turkey's military offensive in northern Syria, Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Mardin MP Mithat Sancar has announced.

Nusaybin district near the Syrian border has been targeted with mortar attacks since the operation began on October 9.

Sancar stated that around 70 people have been injured and about one-third of the district have been evacuated, citing figures of a "crisis desk" formed by the HDP.

"There are question marks in everyone's mind about where did these mortar shells come from. The state must protect the people and remove these question marks. If there are civilian casualties, the state must reveal the causes" Sancar said, adding that there is no sign that the government is working to do that.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced yesterday (October 13) that 18 civilians have been killed in attacks on border towns and 140 have been injured during the operation.

The government blames the YPG for the attacks which have not been claimed by any entity.

Nusaybin is a few kilometers away from the Syrian city of Qamishli, a city populated by Kurds and Arabs and currently under the control of the Syrian government.

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(TP/VK)