Turkey continues artillery firing into Syria after the death of five of Turkish civilians 0610121

a
 

Defense News - Turkey

 
 
Saturday, October 6, 2012, 10:17 AM
 
Turkey continues artillery firing into Syria after the death of five of Turkish civilians.
Turkey continues artillery firing into Syria after a Syrian mortar has killed five of Turkish civilians near the village of Guvecci in Hatay province, Wednesday, October 3, 2012. Early on Saturday, the Anadolu Agency said the Syrian mortar had landed over the border during intense fighting between government troops and rebels in Syria's Idlib province.
     
Turkey continues artillery firing into Syria after a Syrian mortar has killed five of Turkish civilians near the village of Guvecci in Hatay province, Wednesday, October 3, 2012. Early on Saturday, the Anadolu Agency said the Syrian mortar had landed over the border during intense fighting between government troops and rebels in Syria's Idlib province.
On Friday, October 5, 2012, Turkey moved tanks and anti-aircraft missiles into Akcakale near border with Syria.
     

Turkey started the military strikes on Syrian targets on Wednesday, October 5, 2012, after mortar shells from the Syrian side killed five Turks in Akcakale, a border town in Turkey's southeastern Sanliurfa province.

On Friday, October 5, 2012, Turkey moved tanks and anti-aircraft missiles into Akcakale, though Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country did not want war.

"Our armed forces on border region have given the required response in line with the rule of engagements. Targets in Syria, which were detected by radar, were shot by shelling," the Turkish prime ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

"Turkey will never remain unresponsive against these sorts of provocations of Syrian regime within the framework of rules of engagement and international law," the statement added.

In an emergency session on Thursday, Turkish parliament approved a motion for cross-border military operations inside Syria.

Ankara has repeatedly complained about the spillover of Syrian artillery and gunfire into its territory. Last week, the Turkish government signaled that it would take action if mortar strikes were repeated on its territory from Syria.