The Syrian border town of Kessab, which is mainly populated by ethnic Armenians
The Syrian border town of Kessab, which is mainly populated by ethnic Armenians, is amid increasing anxiety and fear under the Islamic State’s fresh threats.
Speaking to the Turkish-Armenian publication Agos, a resident of the city said that the town’s Armenian population has is now feeling like a captive as the confrontations between the conflicting sides continue.
“For us, even the smallest eruption between them costs a life. We cannot even work in our yards, as we are under snipers’ target,” the source complained.
Reports recently emerged that last year’s raid against the town was partly due also to Turkey’s assistance, which shelled the area.
Sounds of bomb explosion are now often heard in the town, which is not very far from the the Turkish border. The population of Kessab now leads a battle for survival under the Islamic State’s fresh threats.
“We have no other choice than to trust our country’s army. No one knows at all what bargaining is going on over Kessab. Developments evolve irrespective of our desire. No one can give guarantees that nothing of the kind will happen ever again. Turkey earlier did not deny the reports that they have links with what happened to us; neither has it guaranteed that it won’t be repeated. How can we sleep in peace in such conditions,” a resident of Kessab is quoted as saying.