Al-Nusra attacks Tal Abyad with heavy weapons

ANF – Tal Abyad 21.07.2013 – Al-Qaeda affiliated al-Nusra front launched a heavy weapon attack against the Kurdish neighborhoods in Syria’s Tal Abyad city, on the border with Turkey to the north, late Saturday.

The group, continuing its attacks in the area, has called on its members to massacre Kurds in mosques and to raid their living areas. Following the front’s call, jihadist fighters started to raid a number of Kurdish neighborhoods in the region. According to the reports coming through, the armed group has shelled Kurdish neighborhoods with tanks, destroying a number of houses of the local people in the area. Local sources say that clashes between Jabhat al-Nusra and Jabhat al-Akrad, Kurdish Front battalion not affiliated to YPG (People’s Defense Forces) but in alliance with it, are continuing in the northern side of the city.

On the other hand, al-Nusra is reportedly performing id control and abducting Kurds in the city. Many are reported killed and wounded in clashes which continue since yesterday evening, after al-Nusra front’s attack in the city. According to the reports, al-Qaeda affiliated armed groups delivered heavy weapons to Tel Abyad two days ago, once again using the Turkish border gate for crossing into the Syrian territory.

After forming check points, the gang groups targeted the Kurdish village of Yaebsê using heavy weapons. The group’s members were arrested by the Kurdish defense forces in the village.Five Kurdish youths have reportedly been kidnapped by the al-Nusra front in the town of Tal Arus located two kilometers away from the city. The group has reportedly established check points in the town as well. According to the reports received, tension in the Tal Abyad city erupted after al-Nusra affiliated groups surrounded the People’s House and forced the people to close it. Negotiations by Kurdish representatives remained inconclusive.