U.S. reacts to Turkish strike on Syria
By Chris Lawrence
Turkey fired on targets in Syria in response to the shelling of a Turkish border town in which five civilians were killed Wednesday, a statement from Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's office said.
A senior defense official says the Pentagon is watching the cross-border attacks between Syria and Turkey with some degree of concern, “but at this point, there’s nothing to suggest it’s going to become a broader conflict.”
The official says Pentagon officials have been closely watching what’s happening between the two nations, but at this point have not initiated any further military-to-military contact with their Turkish allies in response to this issue.
The official says this doesn’t look to be large-scale aerial bombardment, but rather a smaller-scale border skirmish.
“We think this is Turkey basically saying ‘Don’t mess with us. Whatever is going on inside Syria, don’t mess with us,” the official said.
The official says both nations would have an interest in not allowing the conflict to escalate.
“In some ways, Turkey would have more to lose in that kind of fight than Syria. They’ve already got a potential refugee problem coming from Syria, and a fight would only make that worse.” The official also adds that “Syria has so many problems right now, the last thing the government needs is to add another.”
At this point the State Department is taking the lead in talking to Turkey for the U.S., according to the official.
There has been no directive from the Pentagon to change security procedures for US troops in Turkey, although each individual command is given the responsibility to enact security protocols as they see fit. Pentagon officials were not aware of any changes.
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Everyone wants the U.S. to invade Syria... Well it's not going to happen. The rest of the world needs to put on big-boy pants and tie their own shoes for once!
Is this going to be an excuse for the right-wing thugs in Washington to attack Syria? I sincerely hope not! We need to let things over there take their course and just butt out!!! Unfortunately, the idiotic politicians over here will do anything to get votes, no matter how many lives are lost along the way!
Well Assad should not give them an excuse, this action almost deserves a Darwin award.
Let's throw in another round of mortars and see what happens!!
the kurds are shooting artilary into turkey wake up people the time has come to have kurd homeland instead being persecuted by the turks any chance they get .
Quite true pelopas, quite true.
Not a chance even in millions of years.
no way! total PKK has max 5000 people, thats from an estimate population of 10-15mil. They do not represent the population rather other interests.
I think that before any war is started again, all major pareties have to come together and smoke some pot. After that, after the laughter and silliness goes on. If they still want to fight, break out the Rock em Sock em robots!
We dont want war in Turkey
We understand that, but now is the time to keep your back straight and keep war out of Turkey; the whole world understands your position. Strength to you Melih...
Melih move to the village of Akcakale, or near by the border for a week. Would you!
Read the world history for the past 100 years!? Have the Russian, Chinese, in particular, and the eastern countries in general, hve caused more wars to support dictaotrs to rip off the natives or the western countires with the leadership of the Zio n ists!?
Where in the world demonstrators are to carry anti tank, missiles, AK-47's, Machine guns shooting at the government and or the police!? Demonstrations are legitimate only when they are peaceful and once it resorts to violence to create anarchy and chaos then it is not a demonstration but terrorism!? In this case state sponsored terrorism by the outside special interest, the least!? Just think about it and watch this circus of creating hype while people are being massacred by Bahrain, Saudi and Yemen but since the later 3 are western puppets it is ok to kill Bahraini's, Saudi's, and Yemenis to keep the dictators in power to watch the evil doers interest!? This is a hypocrisy!? Nobody cares for the Syrian people!? Only their pocket!? Syrian people are the looser here!? Forcefully imposed upon rather than peacefully working toward a shared platform!?
Anyone who supports the Syrian government who have killed tens of thousands of civilians ON PURPOSE & even tortured the civilians of all ages are no better than the criminals who are committing these atrocities ! ( And I only used one exclamation point... ).
WHAT are you smoking? The Alex Jones kind bud?
You seem to forget that Syrians protested "Peacefully" for months until "The Butcher of Damascus" let loose his security forces who started beating and torturing people and killing them only then did the situation devolve into armed conflict.
Go back over to RT you're a better fit with you ridiculous brain damaged Zio nist conspiracy theories.
Russia and Communist China are blocking all attempts, to put a stop to Syria's aggression and murder. This is Russia and Red China's doing. Those two country's are also backing up Iran. They are who, really want WW111 to start. China has been showing far too much aggression, around the globe. They go out of their way, to antagonize other country's, by intruding on their lands. China also hacked into, other country's secret files. They also sold infected electronic components. U.S. missiles and other weapons, had infected components from Red China. Russia and China, are a little too cozy.
Turkey will of course, defend their peoples lives. Why would they not.? This isn't the first time Syria has fired on Turkey. Let us just make sure, who is really to blame. Some country's people, have no Human Rights. Why would they care about, Syria's or Turkish peoples Human Rights?
GJW, I agree with your assessment and what will follow. It's amazing that these 2 Coujntries that have siuch ties to Assad and still due to thiese ties, wil not allow UN intervention. I say Screw Russia and China and Intervene. If they don't like it. TFB! They had their chance. They blew it 3 times. That is it. They sit this one out.
arghh. American imperialists are trying to invade another country through provocations by client-state regimes.
You must be Muslime...bet you hate Israel too. We know your kind....why don't you head back over to RT or PressTv and spread your lies and hatred.
Vey fannsy name strocker. Too bad not much to stroke for you here. You are lacking compassion, did you know that.! Smile!
Two Words " Targeted Assassination".. If they start killing their own people it is time to Kill them...... Charles Bowen Solomon Stone
You put the scope on the Syrian leader head and I will gladly pull the trigger 🙂
Me too, I can take out a target at 1 mile with that weapon I had on that day. Just need 1 shot. Syria can go back to life once again.
Start of WWIII? WW1 and WW2 started with a lesser bang.
Start of nothing.
I think that WW1 really started over a Beer, if I remember correctly. Lots of things happened over a Beer, many other things happened over other alcohols. I am pretty sure WW1 was over a Beer. I know the revolution was.
Esad is a real bully like his father before. How dare they shot and kill people in a NATO member country. What would we do if this has happened in London. We would be sending our jets to Syria already. The meaning of NATO is to be together and protect other NATO countries. There should be no fly zones for Syria and more ambargo. The refugee numbers in Turkey only are coming to 100000, the conditions as I see are horrendous. Time has come for this tyrant to be finished one way or another. RIP our Turkish friends.
I think you're a Turk, by your use of the word 'ambargo'. But I am too and I support Turkey's action.
Send in the new Death Squad to remove any nuclear capabilities.
This stinks to high heaven. Who gains? Drag NATO into the conflict. Who gains? Syria can't gain anything from this. Clearly the opposition has everything to gain by dragging NATO into this conflict.
I don't like being manipulated.
Whatever. Until we truly work towards solving the problems that cause war in the first place, no need to report this. It is not entertaining, and we already know it's happening anyway.
News is not supposed to be entertainment, especially news where people are being killed. No need to report this? This could turn in to a war. Dang straight we better report this.
Cola !!! you are a major troll.