TURKEY: Ankara says the rules of engagement along the border with Syria have changed, following the downing of a Turkish military jet

Record ID: 217577

  • Title: TURKEY: Ankara says the rules of engagement along the border with Syria have changed, following the downing of a Turkish military jet
  • Date: 27th June 2012
  • Summary: ANKARA, TURKEY (JUNE 26, 2012) (REUTERS) TURKISH PRIME MINISTER TAYYIP ERDOGAN WALKING TO PODIUM DEPUTIES OF RULING AK PARTY APPLAUDING (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) TURKISH PRIME MINISTER TAYYIP ERDOGAN SAYING: "After this latest incident, we have now passed to a new state. We will never tolerate nor leave unreciprocated any security threat created by the Syrian regime on our
  • Embargoed: 12th July 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Turkey
  • Country: Turkey
  • Topics: Conflict,International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVACRU1VFHGIDEHAITM3BE5WEILT
  • Story Text: Turkey will treat any Syrian military units which approach its border as a threat and a military target, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday (June 26).
    Erdogan said Turkey was totally in the right over Syria's shooting down of a Turkish plane and that Ankara's rational response to the incident should not be mistaken for weakness.
    The army's rules of engagement along the two countries' border had now changed, he said.
    "Every military element approaching Turkey from the Syrian border and representing a security risk and danger will be assessed as a military threat and will be treated as a military target," Erdogan said in a speech to his ruling AK Party deputies in parliament.
    He also warned Syria against any further military moves.
    "We are warning the Syrian regime not to make the mistake of testing our determination and the capacity of Turkey," Erdogan said.
    Turkey has demanded backing from its NATO allies over the shooting down of one of its planes and has called a meeting in Brussels under Article 4 of the alliance's charter, which provides for consultations when a member state feels its territorial integrity or security is under threat.
    Turkey has rejected assertions from Damascus that its forces had no option but to fire on the F-4 jet as it flew over Syrian waters close to the coast on Friday and has branded the shooting an "act of aggression". It says the aircraft was an unarmed reconnaissance plane flying over international waters.
    The incident has heightened tensions between Turkey and Syria already strained over the 16-month uprising against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's rule.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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