International News
See other International News Articles
Title: Turkey hits targets inside Syria after border deaths
Source:
BBC
URL Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-19822253
Published: Oct 3, 2012
Author: BBC
Post Date: 2012-10-03 21:00:13 by We The People
Keywords: None
Views: 5161
Comments: 13
Turkey hits targets inside Syria after border deaths The shelling of Akcakale provoked fear and anger Continue reading the main story Syria conflict Turkey seeks Syria action Grim determination in Assad heartland Bombed from above School in a time of war Turkish artillery has fired on targets in Syria after shells from across the border killed five Turkish nationals. A woman and three children were among the dead when the shells, apparently fired by Syrian government forces, hit Turkey's border town of Akcakale. Ankara's response marks the first time it has fired into Syria during the 18-month-long unrest there. Turkey also asked the UN Security Council to take "necessary action" to stop Syrian "aggression". The request was made by Turkish envoy to the UN, Ertugrul Apakan, in a letter to the current president of the 15-member Council, Guatemalan ambassador Gert Rosenthal. Meanwhile, Nato envoys held an urgent meeting in Brussels at the request of Turkey, who is a member of the military alliance. The bloc issued a statement saying it "continues to stand by Turkey and demands the immediate cessation of such aggressive acts against an ally, and urges the Syrian regime to put an end to flagrant violations of international law". The Nato ambassadors also expressed appreciation for Turkey's restraint in its response, the BBC's defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt reports. At the same time, the government in Ankara is expected to ask the parliament on Thursday to authorise cross-border military operations in Syria, Turkish media report. Continue reading the main story Analysis image of Jim Muir Jim Muir BBC News, Beirut The flare-up on Turkey's border with Syria carries the growing tension between the two countries to a new level. It's the first time that Turkish citizens have been killed by fire from the Syrian side of the border. And it's the first time that Turkey has responded, by shelling selected targets inside Syria. Ankara is clearly looking to Nato for solidarity and will doubtless win verbal expressions of support. But at this stage that is unlikely to translate into a move towards joint intervention in the Syrian crisis or support for further escalation of bilateral hostilities. Both countries are strongly endowed with national pride. Syria was unapologetic after its air defences in June fired on a Turkish military jet which crashed into the sea with the loss of two pilots, amidst disputed circumstances. Much will now depend on how Damascus reacts to the reported Turkish bombardment. Several hours after the reports, there was no word from Syria on the extent of the shelling or any damage or casualties. If neither side is in the mood to carry the exchange further, it may die away now that Turkey has vented its anger in kind, as happens from time to time on the Lebanese border with Israel. But the incident will further envenom an already bitterly antagonistic relationship, creating further grudges that may find eventual expression. The Turkish armed forces have in the past moved into northern Iraq in pursuit of Kurdish militants who had bases there. 'Abominable attack' Turkey's territory has been hit by fire from Syria on several occasions since the uprising against Mr Assad began, but Wednesday's incident was the most serious. In a statement, the office of Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: "Our armed forces in the border region responded immediately to this abominable attack in line with their rules of engagement." Targets were struck through artillery fire against places in Syria identified by radar. "Turkey will never leave unanswered such kinds of provocation by the Syrian regime against our national security," the statement said. Syria said it was looking into the origin of the cross-border shelling that hit Akcakale. Information Minister Omran Zoabi added: "Syria offers its sincere condolences to the families of the victims and to our friends the Turkish people." Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu contacted UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the UN's Syria peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi and Nato secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen after the incident. Mr Ban urged Damascus to respect the territorial sovereignty of its neighbours, saying the cross-border incident "demonstrated how Syria's conflict is threatening not only the security of the Syrian people but increasingly causing harm to its neighbours". Mr Rasmussen told Turkey's foreign minister that he strongly condemned the incident, a Nato spokeswoman said, and continued to follow developments in the region "closely and with great concern". map Mr Rasmussen has repeatedly said that Nato has no intention of intervening in Syria but stands ready to defend Turkey if necessary. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said: "We are outraged that the Syrians have been shooting across their border... and regretful of the loss of life on the Turkish side." Akcakale has been fired on several times over the past few weeks. The BBC's Jim Muir says Syrian government forces are attempting to cut rebel supply routes by winning back the border crossing at Tall al-Abyad which the rebels seized last month. Residents have been advised to stay away from the border, and more than 100 schools have been closed in the region because of the violence in neighbouring Syria. Panic Turkey's state-owned Anatolia news agency reported that angry townspeople had marched to the mayor's office to protest about the deaths on Wednesday. Town mayor Abdulhakim Ayhan said: "There is anger in our community against Syria," adding that stray bullets and shells had panicked residents over the past 10 days. Wednesday's attack is believed to be only the second time that people have died as a result of violence spilling over the border from Syria into Turkey. Two Syrian nationals were killed on Turkish soil in April by stray bullets fired from Syria. In Syria itself, at least 34 people were killed and dozens wounded in a series of bomb explosions in the centre of Syria's second city, Aleppo, on Wednesday. The attacks levelled buildings in the city's main square. A military officers' club and a hotel being used by the military bore the brunt of the blasts, some of which were carried out by suicide car bombers.
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#1. To: We The People (#0)
BBC news... nothing like another MSM propaganda outlet to beat the drums of war. And the details are classic false-flag tactics. I wonder; how long until we have to bomb the Syrians to death, to make them "safe for democracy?" How long until we have to "rescue" our ally, Turkey, who is merely another puppet-state, whose governmnet is bought-and-paid-for by the CIA?
And Thank You. Notice How and When LF goes Foreign with Breaking News. While the USSA MSM is really downplaying this....;}
And NoTice the 'Why' is Missing. Question: did the USSA promise Turkey the Caliphate? How could it when Eretz Israel gets first dibs?
Israel Must have the Water from South Lebanon. Now....;}
Now....;} They think that anywhere in the ME where an ancient Hebrew left a sandal track should be reclaimed as part of the "Israel" of the Bible (which never actually existed except in tribal mythology).
Almost every country in the Middle East is awash in oil, and we have to side with the one that has nothing but joos. Goddamn, that was good thinkin'. Esso posted on 2012-01-13 7:37:56 ET
This SO looks like how WWI started. The Serbs to Tsarist Russia, with the AustroHungarians to Germany. "“Our armed forces in the border region immediately retaliated against this heinous attack… by shelling targets spotted by radar. Turkey will never leave unanswered such provocations by the Syrian regime targeting our national security, in line with engagement rules and international law.” Not a very calm or measured response I’d say. And note this carefully: Erdogan immediately sought parliamentary approval for the deployment of Turkish troops beyond its borders. This is the same army whose senior ranks Mr Erdogan only recently jailed because they were ‘plotting against him’. This smells to me like a put-up job. NATO ally attacked by madman in his death throes, NATO instantly responds with “we stand by our member Turkey, and urge the Syrian regime to end flagrant violations of international law.” Erdogan distracts attention away from his burgeoning economic problems at home, and gets the perfect excuse for a popular war – plus the involvement of those nice respectable people from NATO….as opposed to those nasty warmongers the Anglo-Americans. What I’d like to see now is some proof".....Godd Luck with that....;} You'll get as much as you got with 9/11 and the 7/7 Bombing. some one has a hard on for WWIII
Notice how Andrea Mitchell: "Syria attacks Turkey!!!!" happens the Day after this? "Elections in Georgia: U.S. and NATO Lose their “Geopolitical Chess Queen” If I'm Russia, I'm feeling pretty good right now.....;}
Andrea Mitchell: "Syria attacks Turkey!!!!" You know who she's married to, right?
You know who she's married to, right? They got a divorce, last I heard. Don't know why. They look perfect together. Two little munchkins sitting in a tree.....;}
Really? I guess I'm out of the loop and hadn't heard or read about it. I suppose I'll do a bit of research now on it. Thanks.
Did you know that Diane Sawyer is 66 years old? She's a Kentucky girl. I don't know if it is the camera lens or what. She sure as heck doesn't look it.
The eyes and neck are always the give away....;} But she does look good.
But she does look good. I've a cousin who could have been her twin until she had every major bone broken in an auto accident.
Almost every country in the Middle East is awash in oil, and we have to side with the one that has nothing but joos. Goddamn, that was good thinkin'. Esso posted on 2012-01-13 7:37:56 ET
"I am relying on my personal experience with Morons, which have been universally positive." -jwpegler
#2. To: Capitalist Eric (#1)
#3. To: All (#2)
#4. To: All (#3)
#5. To: mcgowanjm (#4)
Israel Must have the Water from South Lebanon.
#6. To: mininggold (#5)
(Edited)
#7. To: mininggold (#5)
#8. To: mcgowanjm (#7)
Notice how
#9. To: Fred Mertz (#8)
Andrea Mitchell: "Syria attacks Turkey!!!!"
#10. To: mcgowanjm (#9)
#11. To: mcgowanjm (#9)
#12. To: Fred Mertz (#11)
#13. To: mcgowanjm (#12)
The eyes and neck are always the give away....;}
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Mail] [Sign-in] [Setup] [Help] [Register]