Turkey Strikes Syria After Civilian Shelling

04/10/2012 by Paul Fiddian - Armed Forces International's Lead Reporter

The violence between Syria and Turkey intensified on 3 October 2012 when Turkish troops, responding to an earlier rocket attack, struck targets inside Syria for the first time since the unrest erupted in early 2011.

The Syrian shellings killed a total of five people, including three children - an act later condemned by the Turkish Government. The retaliatory Turkish fire subsequently claimed the lives of several Syrian soldiers.

While plans are now being discussed that would permit the movement of Turkish troops onto Syrian soil, Government officials have nonetheless stressed that there's no prospect of actual war breaking out at this stage.

Turkish Civilian Shelling

Rather, Turkey's decision to strike Syria in light of the Turkish civilian shelling has been described as a ‘warning'. Meantime, the UN Security Council is currently assembling in light of Turkey's demand that it take "necessary action" to bring Syria's hostilities to a close.

Already, NATO officials have discussed the Turkey-Syria situation and urged for the "immediate cessation of such aggressive acts against an ally", while the EU, the UK and the US are all behind Turkey, too.

Turkish Artillery Strikes

The 3 October Turkish artillery strikes occurred early that morning and saw shells fall on Tall al-Abyad - a Syrian district sited approximately six miles away from the Turkish border.

"Our armed forces at the border region responded to this atrocious attack with artillery fire on points in Syria that were detected with radar, in line with the rules of engagement", Turkish officials explained in a statement.

‘Turkey, acting within the rules of engagement and international laws, will never leave unreciprocated such provocations by the Syrian regime against our national security', NATO officials added in a subsequent statement, published on the organisation's website.

‘The most recent shelling on 3 October 20l2, which caused the death of five Turkish citizens and injured many, constitutes a cause of greatest concern for, and is strongly condemned by, all Allies. In the spirit of indivisibility of security and solidarity deriving from the Washington Treaty, the Alliance continues to stand by Turkey and demands the immediate cessation of such aggressive acts against an Ally, and urges the Syrian regime to put an end to flagrant violations of international law.'