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At the end of last week (with the square of Uranus and Pluto) Syria shot down an unarmed Turkish RF-4E reconnaissance jet that had strayed into Syrian air space.
Following an emergency meeting of the NATO council today, the Western military alliance said that the Syrian action was "unacceptable". NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the alliance condemns the incident "in the strongest terms," and expressed solidarity with Turkey.
Furthermore, Turkey's prime minister said today that the Turkish military will respond to any future violation of its border by Syrian military elements.
"The rules of engagement of the Turkish Armed Forces have changed," Recep Tayyip Erdogan said. "Any military element that approaches the Turkish border from Syria by posing a security risk and danger will be regarded as a threat and treated as a military target." [More...]
Apparently to make good on this threat, Turkey has started to deploy tanks and other military equipment near it's border with Syria:
Turkey sends tanks and military equipment to Syrian border
Hurriyet
June 26, 2012
ISTANBUL - Turkey has deployed a large number of military vehicles to the Syrian border, daily Milliyet reported.
The shipment included 15 armored tanks, in addition to long-distance guns and other military vehicles. The convoy was heavily guarded as it moved toward the border in the event of an attack by outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) members.
Military units reportedly increased security measures on the border following recent events that have strained bilateral relations.
In a related development in the region, 13 zones near Hakkari, Diyarbakır and Şırnak have been declared temporary militray security zones. Diyarbakır Governor’s Office said yesterday in a written satement that no civilians will be allowed in the mentioned regions between July 6 and Oct. 6 since shooting drills will be exercised in those areas.
ALSO SEE - Turkish jet shot down by Russians, opposition leader claims
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