Turkey responds to Syrian mortar attack

[dustybug]

Just on the bbc TRurkey have attacked targets in Syria in response to syrian mortar attack on Turkish border!!!!

[pjharvey]

NATO meeting in the next hour to discuss.

[RichC]

This could give NATO a 'key' to enter Syria now.... maybe just what NATO/USA were after. Although Tragic.

[dustybug]

Isnt it something along the lines of if a NATO member state is attacked theyre duty bound to do something??

[RichC]

Yes, after a NATO plane was shot down (Turkey) and now Turkey has been mortared and civilians being killed. I can't see why anything (not even the Russian/China veto) can stop a cross border visit now. Mind you, Turkey could do it all alone if it needed.

[stealth1234]

It was a matter of time. And so the war beginns..

[dustybug]

This being a military aviation website/forum/group type thingy it goes without saying it'll be interesting to see what appears and or disappears in the uk!

[pjharvey]

Turkey have only invoked NATO article 4 for the time being, which would lead to a NATO condemnation of the attacks at most. They could, however, use the article 4 meeting to invoke article 5. We'll find out soon enough. Remember, it's October in a US election year so anything is possible: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_surprise" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[pjharvey]

Well, NATO issued a strong statement under article 4 condemning Syria's actions and nothing more. And that was that.

As an aside, if the NATO council did have a vote to invoke article 5, it must be unanimous. Only takes one member to vote against it and that's it. We would only know if the vote was successful. An unsuccessful vote would never be made public.

[RichC]

Turkish Govn has given authorisation to the Turkish Military to cross into Syria if needed.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-19830928" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[the beast]

BBC Breaking News - Turkey has returned fire after renewed shelling across border from Syria - media reports

... *Gulp*

[Gary]

Turkish fighters have intercepted a Syrian passenger plane and made it divert to Turkey

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-19905247" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[robin]

Suspect of carrying naughty cargo (arms/weapons etc) from Moscow to Syria

[stealth1234]

If thats the case then Russia has a lot of explaining to do !

[robin]

Turkey says it seized "objectionable cargo" aboard a Syrian passenger plane which it intercepted en route from Moscow to Damascus.

The A-320 plane was escorted on Wednesday evening by two Turkish jets to Ankara's Esenboga Airport, officials and news reports say.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said following security checks on the aircraft's cargo: "There is illegal cargo on the plane that should have been reported" in line with civil aviation regulations, Davutoglu was quoted as saying by Anatolia news agency.

"There are elements on board that can be considered objectionable," he added, without elaborating.

The confiscated cargo might be missile parts, Turkish NTV news channel reported.

The 160 seater Airbus was carrying 35 passengers (of which some 17 were Russian Citizens!!), on board would be allowed to leave soon, Davutoglu said

[Sparts99]

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/turkish-jets-g ... 56526.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Ronald Reagan]

Regarding the shelling, it seems insane the Syrian government would wish to provoke Turkey into entering the war against them. You would think they would do all they could to prevent that. The only ones who gain from full Turkish military action are the rebels. Maybe its them doing the attacks on Turkey to get what they want. Or possibly a military unit acting without government approval. It all seems so ''convenient''! If Assad's forces are doing the shelling then they are fools as this could end up leading to full Turkish/NATO intervention.

[robin]

It is clear that the Syrian Government, uses threats, fear, and when that does not work direct action of killing anyone, including civilians, women and children, as has been noted by various NGO's.

It is appears that the Syrian Government, has also been using, threats etc, and mortars shelling etc, to stop Turkey helping, people fleeing from the murderous Syrian Government killing machine.

Remember that the Syrian have shot down an F-4 plane, which according to the Turkish finding, was in international airspace, not in Syrian airspace, there has been many shells landing in Turkey, not just a few, reported in the last week, where civilians were killed.

Also the Syrian Free Army, has started to develop a free area near the Turkish Border (just like what happens in Libya), this Safe area, is rapidly expanding along the whole northern Syrian Border area (including the Kurdish area), therefore the Syrian Government Army will throw shells, mortars etc into this area anyway.

Remember the Government Army has no concern where it's shell land, or who they kill, and if they kill Turkish civilians, it's the Turkish Government fault, not theirs.

Expect more threats and murder, from Syrian government, and its supporters, as that all they can do to keep power.

[Gary]

Just popped up on Sky's twitter feed

Turkey scrambles two fighter planes to Syrian border after Syrian helicopter bombs border town of Azmarin

https://twitter.com/SkyNewsBreak" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;