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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.
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 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.

Turkey Authorizes Action Against Syria

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.
1/9 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.
Turkey's parliament authorizes further military operations outside its borders after a cross-border mortar attack from Syria killed five civilians.
Turkish military stand near the Turkey-Syria border in Akcakale, Turkey, October 5, 2012.
2/9 Turkish military stand near the Turkey-Syria border in Akcakale, Turkey, October 5, 2012.
Turkey's parliament authorizes further military operations outside its borders after a cross-border mortar attack from Syria killed five civilians.
Pravoslavni sveštenici stoje između pro-evropskih demonstrana i policije u centru Kijeva. 24. januar, 2014.
3/9 Pravoslavni sveštenici stoje između pro-evropskih demonstrana i policije u centru Kijeva. 24. januar, 2014.
Turkey's parliament authorizes further military operations outside its borders after a cross-border mortar attack from Syria killed five civilians.
Turkish soldiers in an advanced armored personnel carrier patrol near the Akcakale border gate, on the Turkish-Syrian border, October 4, 2012.
4/9 Turkish soldiers in an advanced armored personnel carrier patrol near the Akcakale border gate, on the Turkish-Syrian border, October 4, 2012.
Turkey's parliament authorizes further military operations outside its borders after a cross-border mortar attack from Syria killed five civilians.
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.
5/9 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.
Turkey's parliament authorizes further military operations outside its borders after a cross-border mortar attack from Syria killed five civilians.
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.
6/9 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.
Turkey's parliament authorizes further military operations outside its borders after a cross-border mortar attack from Syria killed five civilians.
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.
7/9 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.
Turkey's parliament authorizes further military operations outside its borders after a cross-border mortar attack from Syria killed five civilians.
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.
8/9 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.
Turkey's parliament authorizes further military operations outside its borders after a cross-border mortar attack from Syria killed five civilians.
Smoke rises over the streets after an mortar bomb landed from Syria in the border village of Akcakale, Turkey, October 3, 2012.
9/9 Smoke rises over the streets after an mortar bomb landed from Syria in the border village of Akcakale, Turkey, October 3, 2012.
Turkey's parliament authorizes further military operations outside its borders after a cross-border mortar attack from Syria killed five civilians.
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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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