A Kurdish 17-year-old was reported killed, and some 80 other Kurdish civilians were wounded today when Turkish troops along the border opened fire on the demonstrators, who were in the northern Syrian city of Kobani, a key Kurdish stronghold.
Turkey is building a wall in the area along the border, and Kurdish officials reported the protests began because the Turkish forces building the wall had moved 25 meters into Syrian territory. Turkey’s military confirmed taking “defensive measures” after protesters threw rocks at those involved in the construction.
Turkish troops, however, denied having killed anyone in the incident. Video showed the use of water cannons and tear gas against the protesters, and there was some use of live ammunition against them, though there was no sign the Kurds ever entered Turkey.
Turkey has been building the wall around Kobani since 2014, but dramatically increased their efforts in the past week, since they’ve invaded northern Syria. With Turkish forces in Syria attacking Kurdish YPG forces, tensions are already high, and locals in Kobani have feared being attacked.