Erdogan Again Warns Syria as Army Chief Visits Troops on Border
Turkey warned Syria again on Tuesday that it would not hesitate to retaliate for any strike on its soil as the country's top military commander visited troops stationed at the reinforced border.
"It has become inevitable for our armed forces to retaliate in kind... as the Syrian administration maintains its aggressive position," Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told lawmakers from his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).
Armed forces chief of staff General Necdet Ozel was inspecting troops on a tour of the heavily fortified border region on Tuesday after a number of shells landed on Turkish soil, including one strike that left five civilians dead last week.
After the deadly shelling in the village of Akcakale on Wednesday, the Turkish parliament gave the government the green light to use military force if necessary against one-tie ally Syria.
Turkey bombarded Syrian army positions again on Monday after a new shell strike on another border town.
"Troops loyal to the Assad administration are shelling our territory... We are retaliating in kind. We are currently doing whatever the rules of engagement require us to do," said Erdogan, who has been one of the most vocal opponents of the regime of President Bashar Assad.
He vowed to take any measure in the face of any Syrian threat to Turkish national security, saying: "The requirement of being a state means we must take any measure and be prepared for any possibility."
Turkey has boosted its military defenses on the volatile border over the past week, stationing tanks and anti-aircraft missiles there as well as troops.
Last Wednesday's incident was the most serious between Damascus and Ankara since Syrian anti-aircraft fire brought down a Turkish fighter jet in June, and renewed fears that the Syrian civil war could erupt into a a broader conflict.
over 11 years
Attack the buthcher Assad now...
over 11 years
And use long range missile with Sayyed's name on it!
over 11 years
good point :)
over 11 years
This guy is all talk... he wont dare attack syria with anything other then a few mortars. Not as long as russia Backs assad
over 11 years
finally i see a comment knows exactly whats going on,this guy will not step an inch in to Syria,because if he dose then there well be disaster in Caucasus,unless Russian bear wont interfear which i doubt highly,turkey is the NATO cat,if he can dear to attack,then he wouldn't of call NATOS help or NATO approval,last week,and imagine still is syria what if iran start throwing rocket on turkey,Bashar will not go sooon
over 11 years
he does not need to interfere in Syria, why jump on a sinking ship? bashar will drown in his own blood, it is simply a function of time no more, iran already spent 10 billion on this loser, how much are they willing to spend? as for your russia that always sides with losers, remember Serbia or how about Afghanistan lol?? was the russian red army able to save najibulah for afghanistan?! there too time was not on the regime's side.
over 11 years
well probably ur rite ,bashar will lose at the end,and since u mentioned Serbia,what stop Russia to do the same in Syria?and we gave Serbia and took abkhazia, osetia in return.and Afghanistan we were there 30 years and 30 years west was backing al mujaheddin, Americans been there for 5 years and they dont know how to come out of that whole ,TURKEY is a puppy of Mother Russia,if he work against our interest we would throw them in sea next day.
over 11 years
Time for them to take land for a buffer zone.
over 11 years
dude stop setting behind ur computer and give orders loool,u know what dose war mean between turkey and Syria? do u know what buffer zone mean ?it means Turkey will get a land from syria and station his soldiers there and protect that land under any coast,and for sure syria will welcome them and not throw any missiles or attack deep turkey,or burn that buffer zon.jesus christ
over 11 years
Syrian bashar army only dares to attack civilan people, they will never dare to do anything else.
over 11 years
So it is okay for Turkey to attack Kurd positions inside Iraq, but it is not okay for Syria to attack rebel positions inside Turkey.
Makes perfect sense.
over 11 years
Turkey has retake its position has a leader of mainstream Muslims and defend Muslims without fearing who it might offend. As the Arabs leadership is gutless. Russia China Iran ( or any one else )have no right meddling in our affairs, and can get lost.
Could you imagine what would have happened if -
the area where 50 rockets from Gaza yesterday was Turkish territory and not Israeli.
Erdogan would have sent in his airforce to wipe out all the people he thinks necessary