News / Middle East

Turkish-Syrian Border Quiet After Deadly Attack

Turkish soldiers walk stand guard on the Turkish-Syrian border near the Akcakale border crossing, southern Sanliurfa province, October 5, 2012.
Turkish soldiers walk stand guard on the Turkish-Syrian border near the Akcakale border crossing, southern Sanliurfa province, October 5, 2012.
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VOA News
Turkish forces are patrolling near the Syrian border Friday following a deadly attack earlier this week.

The patrols come after Turkish forces shelled Syrian targets and Turkey's parliament authorized military operations outside its borders if necessary.

The Turkish shelling followed a cross-border mortar attack on the Turkish town of Akcakale that killed five civilians Wednesday.

Border towns in Turkey and SyriaBorder towns in Turkey and Syria
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Border towns in Turkey and Syria
Border towns in Turkey and Syria
On Thursday, the U.N. Security Council condemned the attack on Akcakale, one of the most serious cross-border incidents in Syria's 18-month uprising.

The Council said the incident "highlighted the grave impact the crisis in Syria has on the security of its neighbors and on regional peace and stability."
 
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey has no intention of starting a war, but is determined to defend its borders and citizens.

  • A Syrian independence flag and the damaged customs office at Syria's Tel Abyad border gate are pictured from the Turkish town of Akcakale, October 5, 2012.
  • Turkish military stand near the Turkey-Syria border in Akcakale, Turkey, October 5, 2012.
  • Protesters shout slogans during an anti-war protest in Istanbul, Turkey October 4, 2012.
  • Turkish soldiers in an advanced armored personnel carrier patrol near the Akcakale border gate, on the Turkish-Syrian border, October 4, 2012.
  • The damaged Syrian Tel Abyad custom office is seen in the background, as Syrian men walk from Syria to Turkey after crossing the fence next to the Akcakale border gate, in southern Sanliurfa province October 4, 2012.
  • A Turkish police officer checks identification cards of Syrian men after they crossed from Syria to Turkey at the Akcakale border gate, October 4, 2012.
  • A man walks past the damaged house where five Turkish civilians were killed by a mortar bomb in the southern border town of Akcakale, Turkey, October 4, 2012.
  • A man looks at the damaged house where five Turkish civilians were killed by a mortar bomb in the southern border town of Akcakale, Turkey October 4, 2012.
  • Smoke rises over the streets after an mortar bomb landed from Syria in the border village of Akcakale, Turkey, October 3, 2012.

Meanwhile, activists reported that Syrian warplanes and artillery bombarded the city of Homs Friday, in the heaviest attack to hit that city in five months.

The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also said shelling by the military elsewhere in Homs province Friday killed four civilians.

Fighting between regime forces and rebels was also reported in Deir Ezzor.


Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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Comment Sorting
Comments
     
by: Leonard from: Kericho
October 06, 2012 12:57 AM
Shallom everyone. Say no to war


by: geoks from: US
October 05, 2012 1:27 PM
On Sept 1 1939, it was claimed that Polish army shelled German border town. NAZI invasion of Poland promptly followed.


by: ernjoy from: n.y.
October 05, 2012 10:41 AM
i'm not very smart on things like this;i just don't understand what good the united nations has ever done in any world crisis.they are based in my country and i don't know why.we are hated by so many participants.it would seem to me ,it would be better if the UN were moved to iran.they are specialists in hatred;it would be a nice place.the participants that hate us will be comfortable there and i would be happy once more.thank you for listening.

In Response

by: Geoks from: US
October 05, 2012 8:45 PM
U've got to understand, that the UN is not a place for countries to kiss ass. It is the place for FREEDOM of SPEECH, whether you like what they say or not.

In Response

by: Keayla from: Pleasant Grove
October 05, 2012 1:37 PM
I dont understand what is the problem with the country


by: Anonymous
October 05, 2012 8:34 AM
Why does this seem like a false flag operation? The Turkish reaction says it all... This is a setup to facilitate attacking Syria in support of the insurgency.

In Response

by: Anonymous
October 05, 2012 2:14 PM
That needs to be sooner than later!


by: William White from: Canada
October 05, 2012 7:36 AM
The UN are like a pack of squabbling Children, no one pays any attention to them nor should they.

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