Barrack-Obummer
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Turkey's army on red alert, threatening retaliation against Syria
Tensions between Turkey and Syria escalated sharply on Tuesday, when Turkey's furious Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened military retaliation against Syria along the border between the two countries:
"[It is now clear that Syrian President Bashar] al-Assads regime has become a clear and present danger to Turkeys security.
After this attack, we have entered into a new stage. The rules of engagement of the Turkish Armed Forces have changed. Any risk posed by Syria on the Turkish border, any military element that could pose a threat, will be considered a threat and treated as a military target.
We urge the Syrian regime not to make a mistake and test Turkeys determinacy and capacity. Our rational response should not be perceived as weakness, our mild manners do not mean we are a tame lamb. Everybody should know that Turkeys wrath is as strong and devastating as its friendship is valuable.
Turkey will use its rights born out of international law with determination and take the necessary steps by determining the time, place and method by itself in the face of this unfairness. This is what I want to stress.
Our plane was targeted on purpose and in a hostile way and not as a result of a mistake. The attitude of the Syrian officials following the incident is the most concrete evidence that our jet was attacked on purpose. The harassing fire on our Casa-type plane during the search and rescue operations is the most palpable evidence of this intent."
As an example of the change in the rules of engagement, five Syrian helicopters recently violated Turkish airspace, and no action was taken. Under the new rules of engagement, some military action would be taken.
Turkey has begun deployment of a large number of military vehicles to the Syrian border, including 15 armored tanks, long-distance guns and other military vehicles.
The U.S. and Nato are standing behind Turkey. A Pentagon spokesman said, "The fact is that [the Turkish jet] was shot down. We believe it was a deliberate act. And the Syrian regime needs to answer for it."
POLITICS - Turkish gov
Army on high alert on Syrian border as Turkey warns of retaliation
Assad says that Syria is in a 'real war'
For most of the Syria uprising, Damascus itself has been spared most of the violence. But that's changing as violence is increasing within Damascus and the nearby suburbs. According to one observer:
"Violent clashes are taking place around positions of the Republican Guard in Qudsaya and al-Hama, [8 km from Damascus]. This is the first time that the regime uses artillery in fighting so close to the capital.
This development is important because its the heaviest fighting in the area and close to the heart of the capital."
In the past, Syria's president Bashar al-Assad has played down the strength of the opposition, but this is now changing:
"We are witnessing a real situation of war. ... When one is in a state of war, all our policies and capabilities must be used to secure victory."
Syria's official SANA news agency said that government forces clashed with armed terrorist groups in al-Hama.
Syria in
British special ops cross into Syria
There are also unconfirmed first reports from British, French and Turkish sources that are saying British special forces crossed from Turkey into northern Syria Tuesday, May 26, advancing up to 10 kilometers inside the country.
The same sources report heavy fighting around the Presidential Guards compound on the outskirts of Damascus. State TV confirmed the fighting but said dozens of "terrorists" had been killed and many others taken prisoner, including foreign fighters.
If confirmed, this military drive into Syria would be designed to establish the first safe zone along the Syrian-Turkish border, to be followed by more Western military incursions to establish additional zones of safe asylum in other parts of Syria.
British forces in Syria, Assad presidential compound said under attack
Tensions between Turkey and Syria escalated sharply on Tuesday, when Turkey's furious Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened military retaliation against Syria along the border between the two countries:
"[It is now clear that Syrian President Bashar] al-Assads regime has become a clear and present danger to Turkeys security.
After this attack, we have entered into a new stage. The rules of engagement of the Turkish Armed Forces have changed. Any risk posed by Syria on the Turkish border, any military element that could pose a threat, will be considered a threat and treated as a military target.
We urge the Syrian regime not to make a mistake and test Turkeys determinacy and capacity. Our rational response should not be perceived as weakness, our mild manners do not mean we are a tame lamb. Everybody should know that Turkeys wrath is as strong and devastating as its friendship is valuable.
Turkey will use its rights born out of international law with determination and take the necessary steps by determining the time, place and method by itself in the face of this unfairness. This is what I want to stress.
Our plane was targeted on purpose and in a hostile way and not as a result of a mistake. The attitude of the Syrian officials following the incident is the most concrete evidence that our jet was attacked on purpose. The harassing fire on our Casa-type plane during the search and rescue operations is the most palpable evidence of this intent."
As an example of the change in the rules of engagement, five Syrian helicopters recently violated Turkish airspace, and no action was taken. Under the new rules of engagement, some military action would be taken.
Turkey has begun deployment of a large number of military vehicles to the Syrian border, including 15 armored tanks, long-distance guns and other military vehicles.
The U.S. and Nato are standing behind Turkey. A Pentagon spokesman said, "The fact is that [the Turkish jet] was shot down. We believe it was a deliberate act. And the Syrian regime needs to answer for it."
POLITICS - Turkish gov
Army on high alert on Syrian border as Turkey warns of retaliation
Assad says that Syria is in a 'real war'
For most of the Syria uprising, Damascus itself has been spared most of the violence. But that's changing as violence is increasing within Damascus and the nearby suburbs. According to one observer:
"Violent clashes are taking place around positions of the Republican Guard in Qudsaya and al-Hama, [8 km from Damascus]. This is the first time that the regime uses artillery in fighting so close to the capital.
This development is important because its the heaviest fighting in the area and close to the heart of the capital."
In the past, Syria's president Bashar al-Assad has played down the strength of the opposition, but this is now changing:
"We are witnessing a real situation of war. ... When one is in a state of war, all our policies and capabilities must be used to secure victory."
Syria's official SANA news agency said that government forces clashed with armed terrorist groups in al-Hama.
Syria in
British special ops cross into Syria
There are also unconfirmed first reports from British, French and Turkish sources that are saying British special forces crossed from Turkey into northern Syria Tuesday, May 26, advancing up to 10 kilometers inside the country.
The same sources report heavy fighting around the Presidential Guards compound on the outskirts of Damascus. State TV confirmed the fighting but said dozens of "terrorists" had been killed and many others taken prisoner, including foreign fighters.
If confirmed, this military drive into Syria would be designed to establish the first safe zone along the Syrian-Turkish border, to be followed by more Western military incursions to establish additional zones of safe asylum in other parts of Syria.
British forces in Syria, Assad presidential compound said under attack