Turkey Strikes Syrian Targets at Border

[Scunner]

"Turkish artillery has fired on positions inside Syria after shells from Syria killed five people in a southern Turkish border town. A woman and her three children were among those killed earlier when the shells, apparently fired by Syrian government forces, hit Akcakale. Turkey's response marks the first time it has fired into Syria during the 18-month-long uprising against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Nato ambassadors are due to meet later".


Full Story at BBC News

[Anne]

Not good news is it...

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."

My concern is how far will he go to protect the Turkish border

[Toky]

It's all over the news just now

[Scunner]

I think they had to respond, to not do so would be ridiculous for any country who's civilians came under attack. Syria has enough problems without the might of Turkey engaged in war against them. Just a bit of cage rattling (albeit a sad and tragic one for those killed) but hopefully the response will cause Syria to realise they really don't need a war with Turkey at any time but especially this.

[Anne]

Exactly Keith. 
Although not the first time it has happened, hopefully now the last.

[Colwyn]

Prime Minister Erdogan will today present a motion to Parliament requesting permission to deploy troops to "foreign countries". Shelling of a Syrian army border post continued this morning.