House used by ISIS gangs as headquarter discovered in Akçakale

A house near Akçakale Border Gate that is used by armed gangs who threatened journalists with beheading them has been discovered after Urfa Governor’s decision to not answer questions on ISIS presence in the district.

A house near Akçakale Border Gate that is used by armed gangs who threatened journalists with beheading them has been discovered after Urfa Governor’s decision to not answer questions on ISIS presence in the district. The building was built by ISIS supporter A.A. and rented out for 6 months for a total rent of 100,000 TL. ISIS gangs were photographed near Turkish soldiers right next to this house during the first days of the fighting in Girê Spî, and the Turkish state’s lack of response to the ISIS headquarter exposes the cooperation between Turkey and ISIS.

Dicle News Agency (DIHA) had publicized the presence of this ISIS headquarter in its news article “Is ISIS waging the war from Akçakale” around the time when forces of YPG-YPJ and Burkan El Firat had arrived at Girê Spî city center. The headquarter located in the İlle (Öncül) neighborhood to the east of Akçakale is still in use and Turkish officials continue to turn a blind eye to ISIS presence here. Several pick-up trucks and minibuses without license plates used in suicide bombings are parked outside the house and armed gang members who had also threatened journalists yesterday enter and exit the house continually. Local sources say that the mysterious house is used as an ISIS headquarter.

The house was first filmed on June 13 when fighting in Girê Spî city center began. Bearded men arrived at the house in 4-5 cars with Syrian license plates and later spoke to Turkish soldiers in front of the house. Reportedly, these men were ISIS members who were informing Turkish soldiers that they were going to organize the fight in the eastern front from this house.

Visits became more frequent after the liberation of Girê Spî

After the liberation of Girê Spî from ISIS on June 14, visits to the house became more frequent and there are currently two minibuses, two pick-up trucks and two trucks located in front of the house. There is also a large truck that is used for transporting other vehicles, and men with long beards have been filmed having lengthy phone conversations in front of the house.

Jeep with Syrian license plate brings a different person each time it arrives at the house

A white jeep with a Syrian license plate is almost always parked in front of the house and its drivers and passengers are different people each time the jeep is used for transportation and delivery. Those who arrive at the property always directly enter the mysterious house and only step out for having phone conversations.

Armed gangs’ vehicle parked outside

The white jeep parked outside the house is also the jeep that armed gangs intimidating journalists nearby the border gate had used, and this connection leads civilians nearby to view the house as an ISIS headquarter. Two ISIS groups had met nearby the border gate and observed the area after threatening journalists yesterday. One of these groups left the border gate and parked its vehicle in front of the aforementioned house, which confirms local civilians’ suspicions about the house.

Who photographed the journalists?

Another event that raised eyebrows was that people who photographed journalists recently also stay at this house. Many journalists are continually followed and photographed as part of gangs’ intimidation efforts.

100,000 TL paid for rent over the past 6 months

The house is the building that is closest to the border, and was built six months ago by Akçakale resident and street vender A.A. who later rented the house to people from outside the city. According to the claims, a total of 100,000 TL has been paid for rent over the past 6 months to A.A, who is an outspoken ISIS supporter. Despite his low-paying job, A.A. has bought a luxurious car recently, a detail that increases suspicions about the use of his property as an ISIS headquarter.

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