This afternoon, Turkey fired into Syria in response to shelling by Syria into Turkey. Reports are coming in quickly.
TURKEY SAYS HAS STRUCK TARGETS IN SYRIA IN RESPONSE TO MORTAR STRIKE ACROSS BORDER – STATEMENT FROM PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) October 3, 2012
RT @JoeWSJ: BREAKING: Turkey statement says it struck targets identified by radar inside Syria "immediately" after syrian shells hit Turkey.
— Newley Purnell (@newley) October 3, 2012
BREAKING: Turkey PM's office says Turkish artillery fired on Syria after shelling of Turkish town.
— The Associated Press (@AP) October 3, 2012
U.N. CHIEF SAYS MORTAR FIRE FROM SYRIA INTO TURKEY SHOWS HOW CONFLICT IS INCREASINGLY HARMING SYRIA'S NEIGHBORS
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) October 3, 2012
NATO AMBASSADORS WILL MEET LATER ON WEDNESDAY AFTER MORTAR BOMB FIRED FROM SYRIA INTO TURKEY – NATO OFFICIAL
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) October 3, 2012
Live updates of events in Syria http://t.co/fPY5zqEH
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) October 3, 2012
“@EtyenMAHCUPYAN: Turkey Says it Will Hit More Targets if Syrian Attacks Are Repeated (WSJ)” #savasahayir #savaşahayır
— aksoymustafa (@_aksoymustafa) October 3, 2012
#savaşahayır is trending now.
The hashtag #savaşahayır that's trending worldwide is Turkish for "no to war." Incredible.
— Andrew Katz (@katz) October 3, 2012
Oh, By the Way, Turkey and Syria Are Teetering On the Brink of War: http://t.co/zsGY21V8 Turkish strike on Syrian targets reported.
— John Hayward (@Doc_0) October 3, 2012
More from Human Events:
Turkey referred this incident to NATO and the United Nations. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said “we are outraged that the Syrians have been shooting across the border. We are very regretful about the loss of life that has occurred on the Turkish side.”
NATO condemned the incident, and said it has “no intention of intervening in Syria, but stands ready to defend Turkey if necessary.”
It looks like it might be necessary, because Reuters just reported that “Turkey says it has struck targets in Syria in response to a mortar strike across the border,” according to the Turkish Prime Minister’s office. NATO is said to be following the situation “closely and with great concern.”
Here we go…. RT: @JesseRodriguez: Reuters: Turkey says has struck targets in Syria in response to mortar strike across border
— Drew McCoy (@DrewMTips) October 3, 2012
Are Syria and our ally Turkey on the brink of war? Will President Obama answer this urgent 3:00 a.m. call? Citizens want to know.
Sense is a bit of a cross-border flareup. Syria cannot press the issue and Turkey will be persuaded by Washington to back off prosecuting.
— Noah Rothman (@NoahCRothman) October 3, 2012
@BuzzFeedAndrew @KattyKayBBC Things could get really fun if Turkey asks for an Article 5 declaration.
— Sunny (@sunnyright) October 3, 2012
So, did Syria just declare war on the United States via NATO Article 5?
— Cuffy (@CuffyMeh) October 3, 2012
Jay Carney: "What is this Article 5 you speak of?" RT @CuffyMeh: So, did Syria just declare war on the United States via NATO Article 5?
— Megawatt Herb Drench (@mdrache) October 3, 2012
https://twitter.com/kesgardner/status/253578628179296256
Gird your loins, everyone. There's a chance we just got dragged into a war with Syria.
— John Hayward (@Doc_0) October 3, 2012
Massive bumps appear to be forming in the road on the Syrian-Turkish border.
— John Hayward (@Doc_0) October 3, 2012
I hope Obama doesn't try putting on a Turkish accent when he talks to them about this Syria thing.
— John Hayward (@Doc_0) October 3, 2012
If Hillary has that reset button handy, now might be a good time to loan it to Turkey and Syria.
— Megawatt Herb Drench (@mdrache) October 3, 2012
Meanwhile Turkey and Syria both need to take a time-out and apparently we've lost track of Syrian chemical weapons. Holy God…
— LMR (@LilMissRightie) October 3, 2012
Poor Obama. If shit gets real b/t Syria & Turkey tonight he can't just go to bed like he did during the Benghazi attacks. He has a debate.
— LMR (@LilMissRightie) October 3, 2012
Former Mitt Romney foreign policy adviser Richard Grenell swiftly scopes out the situation and cuts right to the chase.
Syria fires into Turkey. What are we doing for our ally? Turkey has been a member of NATO since 1952 & we have a NATO commitment to uphold.
— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) October 3, 2012
Obama legacy: Israel & Turkey, two great allies, can't count on us. China & Russia don't fear us. Radical Islamists frighten us.
— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) October 3, 2012
don't mess with the #Turkish military…
— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) October 3, 2012
@AFreeHuman2 @dodgerdame @escrubb who called for the meeting?
— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) October 3, 2012
i realize WhiteHouse political reporters are in Denver-mode, but has Obama issued an unequivocal statement of support for NATO ally Turkey?
— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) October 3, 2012
. @Harlekwin15 Turkey already invoked article 4, tonight could be article 5. the US should make it clear we stand with them.
— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) October 3, 2012
We will? Stay tuned.
Twitchy will monitor this developing and urgent situation.
Update 4:19 p.m. ET:
British U.N. envoy says U.N. Security Council discussed Syria, Turkey tensions, awaiting Turkish letter before considering possible moves
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) October 3, 2012
Update 4:47 p.m. ET:
.@NATO’s North Atlantic Council issues statement in support of Ally #Turkey in wake of continuous Syrian shelling. http://t.co/86W7e787
— AndersFogh Rasmussen (@AndersFoghR) October 3, 2012
Statement from NATO on the situation between Turkey and Syria http://t.co/Y720atNn
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) October 3, 2012
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.
NATO’s statement also mentions that five Turkish citizens were killed in the Syrian strike, and many others were injured.
Update:
Reuters reports that Syria is apparently investigating the strike on Turkey:
Syria says it's investigating the source of a shell that hit Turkey, extends condolences to the Turkish people
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) October 3, 2012
And that Syria is already cautioning surrounding nations’ response to the strike:
Syria says it respects the sovereignty of neighboring countries, urges "states and governments" to act wisely and rationally
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) October 3, 2012
The U.S. government has condemned the strike and pledges solidarity with Turkey:
White House strongly condemns Syrian shelling across border with Turkey, says "we stand with our Turkish ally"
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) October 3, 2012
White House urges other nations to press Assad to step aside, declare ceasefire, begin political transition
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) October 3, 2012
Turkish foreign minister says U.S. Secy. of State Clinton assured him full U.S. backing at U.N. and NATO over Syria tensions
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) October 3, 2012
Update:
Turkey has drafted a letter to the UN Security Council asking the Council to condemn Syria’s attack:
#Turkey sends a letter to #UNSC to "strongly condemn #Syria for attack on #Turkish soil" #UNSC will meet tomorrow (Thursday) early morning
— kahraman haliscelik (@turkishreporter) October 3, 2012
At #UN 2 gather info on today's hostilities/ repercussions between #Syria & #Turkey. #UNSC emergency mtg tomorrow morning. @DiplomaticallyX
— Amb.Muhamed Sacirbey (@MuhamedSacirbey) October 3, 2012
Turkey says in letter to UN Security Council that Syria mortar attack was 'flagrant violation of international law' … http://t.co/9GEeg4vR
— Martin (@FreeMartinNow) October 3, 2012
In the letter, Turkey’s U.N. Ambassador Ertugrul Apakan wrote: “This is an act of aggression by Syria against Turkey…It constitutes a flagrant violation of international law as well as a breach of international peace and security,” said the letter, which was obtained by Reuters.
