[CoiI8XIj]

Turkey hits targets in Syria: PM
October/03/2012 - ISTANBUL

[b]Targets in Syria has been bombed in return to a deadly attack which killed 5 people in southeeastern Turkey, Prime Minister has said.[clip]


Targets in Syria has been bombed in return to a deadly attack which killed 5 people in southeeastern Turkey, Prime Minister has said.

"These provacations against the safety of Turkey will not remain unanswered," the Prime Minister said. "We have responded to the attack, and bombed targets in Syria."
Five people were killed and at least eight were wounded Oct. 3 when at least three Syrian shells struck the Akçakale district of eastern Şanlıurfa. One of those killed was a 6-year-old child, according to officials.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu set up an urgent meeting with Foreign Ministry officials after the Syrian shells hit Turkey, and also called the special envoy of the UN and Arab League to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in order to inform them of what had happened. The minister also held an urgent meeting with ministry officials, canceling his other meetings to follow up on the developments.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced on June 26, after Syria shot down a Turkish plane, that Turkey had changed its military rules of engagement, and would treat any military approach from Syria as a threat. Officials, however, have been declining to elaborate on the content of the changes to the policy since then.

The inhabitants of Akçakale have been staging an “uprising” since the incident, seeing it as a final straw, said Abdülhakim Ayhan, Akçakale’s mayor. A group of residents of Akçakale marched to the District Governor’s Office to protest the incidents, and the governor left his office in an armored vehicle, daily Hürriyet reported.

“The Syrian forces fired at the rebels and hit our town,” mayor Ayhan said, speaking to private broadcaster CNN Türk. A corresponden who had just come from the region said the shell must have belonged to the Syrian army, because the Syrian rebels do not have such weapons.

Five people, including four children and a woman, were killed, and eight were wounded when a Syrian mortar exploded in the Akçakale district of Şanlıurfa, Justice and Development Party (AKP) Şanlıurfa Deputy Halil Özcan told CNN Türk. The shell reportedly struck a house where the children and woman were killed.

The state of health of two of the wounded was in critical condition, Labor Minister Faruk Çelik, who represents Şanlıurfa in Parliament, said. The wounded were being transferred to hospitals.

At least three shells hit three different points in Akçakale, another Turkish offical said. “More serious steps could be taken by the Turkish government to protect its citizens after these events,” he said.

There have been heavy clashes between Syrian army forces and rebels for the past 20 days along Turkey’s border with Syria. Both Ayhan and Halil Özcan said the residents of Akçakale have been living in fear for many days now, since a mortar struck the town on Sept. 28. Turkey sent a diplomatic note to Syria regarding that strike.

“No one should doubt Turkey’s defense capabilities,” Davutoğlu said following the Sept. 28 mortar strike.

Deputy Parliament Speaker Mehmet Sağlam has condemned Syria in the name of the Turkish Parliament, and the Republican People’s Party (CHP) has announced that it will send a committee to Akçakale, led by the vice president of the party, Sezgin Tanrıkulu.

Hürriyet Daily News


http://www.euronews.com/2012/10/03/t...syrian-attack/

[gernica]

Alhamdulillah!!!

May Allah inspire them to destroy Bashar al Assad and his evil regime

[floadaVonfoli]

According to informed people, Turkey won't retaliate or declare war against asad because NATO/Israel will not allow it. Turkey will throw some projectiles on empty land in Syria, i.e. measured response.


See a sarcastic comment by a guy on twitter:


"Racan Alhoch @MidaniSpeaks

Guys I have the transcript of the #NATO meeting. Turkey: woof woof woof, All others: meow"

[yasmin]

why would asad want to bring more trouble on himself by bombing turkey? hasnt he got enough to deal with?

[gernica]

According to informed people, Turkey won't retaliate or declare war against asad because NATO/Israel will not allow it. Turkey will throw some projectiles on empty land in Syria, i.e. measured response.

NATO has no power to stop Turkey from attacking Syria and they need Turkey more than Turkey needs them.

Turkey isn't invading Syria because it would weaken their soft power freinds with everyone policy by alienating Iran.

Any evidence that Turkey is only shelling empty land?

Syrian positions were destroyed and assad soldiers were killed according to people in Syria.

Meanwhile at the same time as saying that they dont want war with Syria the Turkish government has asked parliament to deploy troops on the Syrian side of the border - in anyones book to do this is a type of invasion - its just they want to avoid an open conflict with assad.

[illiniastibly]

NATO has no power to stop Turkey from attacking Syria and they need Turkey more than Turkey needs them.

you are incorrect here brother. turkey subscribes to western worldview at present because they have a democracy. they cannot do anything against it. at least not now.
it is clear that syrian revolution is 'blessed' by the west that turkey can do such things. in afghanistan they sent troops because that invasion wasnt 'blessed' by the west.

had US and west not 'blessed' the rebels then turkey would not have gone against NATO's wishes.

[gernica]

you are incorrect here brother. turkey subscribes to western worldview at present because they have a democracy. they cannot do anything against it. at least not now.
it is clear that syrian revolution is 'blessed' by the west that turkey can do such things. in afghanistan they sent troops because that invasion wasnt 'blessed' by the west.

nothing you write above has any relevance to what I wrote brother

1. Turkey does not need the west

2. NATO has no authority to stop Turkey attacking Syria

3. The West needs Turkey as an ally in the region, whereas if it wished Turkey could over time realign with the growing powers of the East and that would greatly reduce western influence in the region to their great detriment.

[illiniastibly]

nothing you write above has any relevance to what I wrote brother

1. Turkey does not need the west

2. NATO has no authority to stop Turkey attacking Syria

3. The West needs Turkey as an ally in the region, whereas if it wished Turkey could over time realign with the East and that would greatly reduce western influence in the region to their great detriment.

you are incorrect on all three points as it is the exact opposite. NATO 'needs' turkey as an ally as much as it 'needed' pakistan as an ally.

[gernica]

If American lost either Pakistan or Turkey to the growing Chinese camp its power in the world would be greatly diminished.

America needs both Pakistan and Turkey much more than they need it.

[ForumMasta]

Very interesting.
But this could blow up badly very quickly.

Let's think about what is happening.

Shia side -
Hezbollah
Iran
Syrian Government forces

Muslim side -
Turkey
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Freedom fighters from all over Muslim world
Syrian civilians


Other aspects
Israel hates Iran and wants to destroy its nuclear facilities. Most countries in the GCC feel likewise.
If Turkey intervenes in Syria, it will face up against Iran. In the ensuing mayhem. israel could attack Iranian nuclear sites. The US would then intervene also to stop the Iranians reacting too much.
Furthermore, historically Israel and Turkey have been allies.

This could become a full-blown middle eastern war with massive reprecussions.

[tramadolwithall]

Very interesting.
But this could blow up badly very quickly.

Let's think about what is happening.

Shia side -
Hezbollah
Iran
Syrian Government forces

Muslim side -
Turkey
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Freedom fighters from all over Muslim world
Syrian civilians


Other aspects
Israel hates Iran and wants to destroy its nuclear facilities. Most countries in the GCC feel likewise.
If Turkey intervenes in Syria, it will face up against Iran. In the ensuing mayhem. israel could attack Iranian nuclear sites. The US would then intervene also to stop the Iranians reacting too much.
Furthermore, historically Israel and Turkey have been allies.

This could become a full-blown middle eastern war with massive reprecussions.

Situation is out of control.

It’s Not A Civil War—It’s A Religious War

[illiniastibly]

If American lost either Pakistan or Turkey to the growing Chinese camp its power in the world would be greatly diminished.

America needs both Pakistan and Turkey much more than they need it.

pakistan was always friendly with china. its participation war against terror alongside US did nothing to that friendship so your argument is void.
china has not placed its military plans for world domination on the table.

this retaliation is a good thing but turkey is not the superpower you are trying to make it out as. be realistic.

[ForumMasta]

Situation is out of control.

It’s Not A Civil War—It’s A Religious War

Brother,
I'm referring to seeing Iranian tank formations entering Syria.
israeli warplanes attacking Iran
Hezbollah rockets hitting Israel full scale
USA imposing 'no-fly' zones over Iran.

Now that is something that could happen if Turkey starts slogging its way through to Damascus to liberate it. Don't get me wrong, I hate Assad and i am very pro-Turkey. It's just a worrying situation that's all.

[ForumMasta]

pakistan was always friendly with china. its participation war against terror alongside US did nothing to that friendship so your argument is void.
china has not placed its military plans for world domination on the table.

this retaliation is a good thing but turkey is not the superpower you are trying to make it out as. be realistic.

Turkey alhumdulllilah has a very strong military.
Ranked 6th in world according to this - http://www.globalfirepower.com/
however turkey gets marked down because it lacks global force projection. However that has never been Turkey's military strategy. it's military is created to defend its territorial integrity, and in that respect is very very impressive.
Not a superpower by any means but certainly a large well trained army, navy and airforce. if UK didn't have force projection capabilities for instance, it's military would be weaker than Turkey.

[Clunlippibe]

I often forget this fight with Assa has gone on for almost 2 years now, in all honesty it would not hurt NATO to step up. Assad will crumble easily and intervening will not cause NATO much harm if not none considering the weakness of his force now.
I applaud Turkey and its actions though, although I wish to see them do more.
I applaud Turkey and may they be blessed for their actions.

[floadaVonfoli]

NATO has no power to stop Turkey from attacking Syria and they need Turkey more than Turkey needs them.
.

Salam alaykum,

Brother Turkey does not have the capability to attack asad without approval from NATO and USA.

See how NATO members react over this incidence. Germany calls for restraint.

'Calm down,' Germany tells Turkey after attacks: German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday joined other world leaders in calling for restraint after Turkey shelled Syrian positions in reprisal for mortar fire that killed five Turkish civilians. Source:
Code:

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 http://www.thelocal.de/national/20121004-45361.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/nato-urges-calm-following-syrian-shelling-of-turkish-town-a-859554.html

Turkey has multitude of enemies form inside (Alevis, Kemalists, PKK) and outside (Iran, Syria, Iraq, Russia, Israel, West, etc.). It depends on energy supply from Iran and Russia. Moreover, Turkey is under sever pressure from USA to stop/withhold weapon supply to Syrian resistance fighters. The west wants to choke 'rebels' supply line while making sure that asad has the upper hand. That is why there is an stalemate for three months on Aleppo front lines.

>Any evidence that Turkey is only shelling empty land?
Reports indicate that Turkey was indeed pounding some of asad militia bases but the extent of damage is unknown.

Asad has made cross border incursions/shelling into Turkey, Iraq, Jordanian, Lebanon and Israeli (Occupied Golan) on multiple occasions but he is getting away with it since he is one of the protectors of Israel. In a Iraqi border village, asad's shelling caused death to Sunni Muslims but no reaction from Iraq since American occupation transformed Iraq into is a province of Iran. Such killings and/or injuries happened across Lebanese, Jordanian and Turkish borders as well. Moreover, Hizbullat backed Lebanese government and Jordanian government arrested Syrian opposition activists and handed them to asad Mukhabarat.

Iran has built an air bridge over Iraqi airspace to replenish asad's weapons cache and transport shia militias to kill Syrian Muslims. Tens perhaps hundreds of such flights are landing at Damascus Airport. Recently, USA 'begged' Iraq to stop Syria bound Iranian flights but Iraq refused. This is completely absurd as Iraq was under American occupation until very recently. It actually means America wants asad to stay in power.

[illiniastibly]

Turkey alhumdulllilah has a very strong military.
Ranked 6th in world according to this - http://www.globalfirepower.com/
however turkey gets marked down because it lacks global force projection. However that has never been Turkey's military strategy. it's military is created to defend its territorial integrity, and in that respect is very very impressive.
Not a superpower by any means but certainly a large well trained army, navy and airforce. if UK didn't have force projection capabilities for instance, it's military would be weaker than Turkey.

a strong military is nothing in front of NATO once you subscribe to their worldview. as a Muslim country its duty was to attack syria and help the muslims being massacred. no ifs and buts. yet it only acted when its own citizens were killed in its own territory. i am not saying anything on their intentions but it is crystal clear they have no choice but to subscribe to western worldview. that to me automatically nullifies their power.
a NATO attack is accompanied by economic sanctions, trade isolation and what not.

this is why i say again to turkey fans: be realistic.

[soajerwaradaY]

Syrian shells had fallen on seven other occasions within the borders of Turkey.

[euylvaygdq]

The uprising in Syria has exposed a reality about Turkey's military to many Turks themselves, according to Todays Zaman. Turkey does not have a military policy of preparation for war. Rather, it follows a Kemalist based philosophy of "a concept of peace"- it is NOT preparing for war. It's as if you send troops out on patrol, but without bullets. Or you transport 200 unarmed soldiers by unarmored vehicles down a road that recently was the site of a PKK bombing and attack.

Apparently, it is the only military in the world which does NOT prepare for war on principle.

Turkey also has a blend of 35% professional, 65% conscripted military, meaning inexperienced and unprofessional soldiers matriculate continuously into its lowest ranks.

So not only are "professional" generals of the TSK ( Turkish Armed Forces) found plotting against the elected government and funnelling weapons, intel, and support to the PKK as the recent Sledgehammer trials have revealed, but the Kemalist philosophy of conscription and 'pacified military' render the TSK poorly manned and poorly prepared for war. As well, despite the TSK's large size, there are serious doubts about the armaments available to directly face the Syrian military.

The recent shelling of a Turkish village from Syrian soil will certainly serve as a pretext for escalation of armed conflict and the greater preparation for war within Turkey. However, several pretexts have passed before and Turkey has avoided martialization. The Syrian govt openly threatened Alevi populations in Turkey. The Bashar has been linked several times to arming and supporting PKK terrorist attacks in Turkey. Several incidents have occurred wherein Syrian spies captured people within Turkey and returned them to Syria.

All this occurring, there are factions within NATO who want to convert the TSK to an all professional military, smaller, preparing for war, so it engages in more NATO assignments. It will also mean that Turkey will be a more active consumer of the American military industrial complex, as America dominates over 70% of the entire global market for arms/weapons/war. This shelling is a far more public pretext for changes for the TSK.

Did Bashar really just shell a Turkish village?
Possibly. But it's also possible that someone else shelled it and blamed it on Bashar, like Nato/american/mercenaries contracted to draw Turkey into the conflict.

Allah knows best.

[CoiI8XIj]

pakistan was always friendly with china. its participation war against terror alongside US did nothing to that friendship so your argument is void.
china has not placed its military plans for world domination on the table.

this retaliation is a good thing but turkey is not the superpower you are trying to make it out as. be realistic.

For many in aging and debt-weary Europe, which will be lucky to eke out a little more than 1 percent growth this year, Turkey’s economic renaissance — last week it reported a stunning 11.4 percent expansion for the first quarter, second only to China — poses a completely new question: who needs the other one more — Europe or Turkey?

Turning East, Turkey Asserts Economic Power