Syria-Turkey Fighting Continues
October 7, 2012
Syrian mortar fire again struck a Turkish border village on Sunday, prompting artillery retaliation for the fourth day, AFP reported.
The Syrian mortar round hit Akcakale, the site of a similar strike on Wednesday, as Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said President Bashar al-Assad should be replaced by Vice President Faruq al-Shara.
The mortar round hit the grounds of a public building without causing casualties, Turkey’s NTV news channel reported, adding that the building had been evacuated beforehand.
On Wednesday five civilians were killed in Akcakale in a mortar strike that provoked counter-fire, in the most serious incident since Syrian anti-aircraft fire brought down a Turkish warplane in June.
That incident caused a spike in tensions between the former allies and renewed fears of a broader conflict.
Turkey’s parliament on Thursday gave the government the green light to use military force against Syria if necessary.
Akcakale’s mayor was quoted by the semi-official Anatolia news agency as saying Sunday’s mortar hit prompted an immediate response by Turkish artillery.
The UN Security Council on Thursday strongly condemned cross-border attacks by Syria and called for restraint between the neighbors.
Syria’s commercial capital Aleppo, meanwhile, was rocked by the heaviest fighting of an almost three-month offensive against rebels, residents said.
An AFP correspondent said warplanes were overflying the rebel-held Bab al-Hadid and Shaar neighborhoods, where witnesses reported fierce fighting.
“This is the worst fighting we’ve seen here since the beginning of the Aleppo war,” one Bab al-Hadid resident told AFP.
“It looks like the army is trying to push the rebels as far as it can from the Hanano barracks,” the resident said, asking not to be identified.
As fighting raged in Aleppo, state television said government forces had pushed rebels out of two of their strongholds in Damascus province, Qudsaya and Hameh.
“Hameh and Qudsaya in Damascus province have been cleansed from the armed terrorists,” the channel said, using the regime’s blanket term for the rebels.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the government had taken control of Hameh and said the bodies of 21 men were found there.
Similar posts
-
Dear World: I Don't Care
November 2, 2023By Avi Lewis I don’t care that you sympathize with Hamas I know you wouldn’t tolerate any of ...
-
Stand With Israel!
October 17, 2023Stand with Israel. Don't stand with the extreme terror organization Hamas. This is a war about huma...
-
Israel Thanks You For Your Support
October 13, 2023Israel extends its heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you, dear friends and supporters, f...
-
How Israel Benefits the United States
October 5, 2023The relationship between Israel and the United States has been a cornerstone of American foreign po...
-
How Israel Helps Its Arab Neighbors
September 27, 2023Introduction Israel, a country known for its rich history and complex geopolitical landscape, ha...
-
The Amazing Country of Israel
September 15, 2023Introduction Nestled in the heart of the Middle East, Israel is a nation with a remarkable histo...
-
Israel Safeguards The World From Terror Attacks
August 23, 2023Introduction In an era where terrorism poses a significant threat to global security, Israel sta...
-
Israel Helps The World With Water Recycling
August 10, 2023Introduction In a world grappling with the challenges of water scarcity and resource management,...
