TURKEY: Turkey retaliates following Syrian shell lands in its territory

Record ID: 281503

  • Title: TURKEY: Turkey retaliates following Syrian shell lands in its territory
  • Date: 17th October 2012
  • Summary: HACIPASA, HATAY PROVINCE, TURKEY (OCTOBER 17, 2012) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS) A VILLAGER SHOWING THE CRATER CAUSED BY THE SYRIAN MORTAR SHELL THE CRATER CASUED BY SYRIAN MORTAR SHELL MORE OF THE VILLAGER BESIDE THE CRATER SYRIA (AS SEEN FROM TURKEY) (OCTOBER 17, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PLUME OF SMOKE SEEN RISING FROM BEHIND A HILL VARIOUS OF A SYRIAN BORDER TOWN
  • Embargoed: 1st November 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Turkey
  • Country: Turkey
  • Topics: Conflict
  • Reuters ID: LVA6RR0G6AYTJ09KH2L18F4L6LII
  • Story Text: A Syrian mortar shell fell on Turkish soil on Wednesday (October 17) a statement on the Hatay province governorate website read.
    The statement confirmed that Turkish artillery brigades returned fire in retaliation, after the shell landed three metres inside the Turkish border.
    No casualties were reported.
    Turkey is increasingly becoming entangled in Syria's troubles after intercepting a Syrian airliner carrying what it said were Russian-made munitions for the Syrian army, infuriating Moscow and Damascus. It has led calls for intervention, including no-fly zones enforced by foreign aircraft to stop deadly air raids by Assad's forces.
    But there is little chance of U.N. support for robust action. China insists any solution to Syria's crisis must come from within while Russia has said many Syrians still support Assad. Western nations meanwhile are loath to commit to any military action that could touch off a regional sectarian war.
    The bloodshed in Syria has worsened markedly in the past two months although neither side has been able to gain a distinct advantage, with government forces relying heavily on air power and artillery to batter the rebels.
    Tensions between Ankara, which has also sheltered Syrian rebels, and Damascus have been simmering of late after a shell fired by Syrian forces killed five civilians in a Turkish border town. Ankara has since retaliated repeatedly for further shelling from the Syrian side, an area of heavy fighting between Syrian government and rebel forces.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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