Syrian artillery hits Turkish neighborhood

An artillery shell apparently fired by the Syrian army hit a neighborhood in the Akçakale district on the Turkish side of the countries’ mutual border today.

The shell fell in the Hürriyet neighborhood of Akçakale, destroying the walls of two houses, as well as shattering windows and causing damage to numerous homes and businesses.

Akçakale Mayor Abdulhakim Ayhan said a loud explosion came from near the district governor's office and that they learned that an artillery shell had hit the town. He said no one was injured in the incident and that security forces were sweeping the area in case unexploded shells were present nearby.

Schools, which were opened in Akçakale this morning after being closed yesterday, was shut down again today due to intensifying clashes in the Syrian town of Tell Abyad, where the Syrian army is pounding rebel positions with heavy weapons to retake the settlement it lost to opposition forces two weeks ago.