The possibility that war between Turkey and Syria is coming is more likely every day. I think that NATO at this point might allow Turkey to have Syria because what is now happening has become too insane for the world to cope with any longer. And since Iranian Shia Muslim troops are in Syria killing Sunni civilians this is not acceptable to Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Jordan or any other majority Sunni Muslim Country. I think the world needs to get ready for an all out sectarian Middle East War. I think this is what Putin's stand is starting to create. Though it also makes sense if you look at Russia and the Soviet Union back to 1917 as well. Any way you look at it oil prices could get pretty bad during the next few years at times.
Begin Partial quote:
"Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told parliament that if Syrian
troops approached Turkey's borders, they would be seen as a military
threat. "
end partial quote:
Begin full quote:
26 June 2012
Last updated at 12:58 ET
Aid agencies say civilians are being trapped by fighting in Syria's cities
Reports from activists, which cannot be verified, say rebels clashed with Syria's elite Republican Guard.
The violence came as Turkey issued a stark warning to its neighbour Syria over the downing of a jet last week.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told parliament that if Syrian troops approached Turkey's borders, they would be seen as a military threat.
In other developments on Tuesday:
Correspondents say it is rare for fighting to take place near Republican Guard bases and suggests a growing confidence among the rebels.
The elite Republican Guard, commanded by President Bashar al-Assad's younger brother Maher, is tasked with protecting the capital.
State TV confirmed the fighting but said dozens of "terrorists" had been killed and many others taken prisoner, including foreign fighters.
It said large numbers of armed rebels had moved into al-Hama and tried to take control of a main road to the west in order to bring in more arms and fighters.
The Observatory said that 10 people had been killed by shelling in Qadsaya and some 58 people had died in violence across Syria on Tuesday - 24 soldiers, 30 civilians and four rebels. The figures cannot be independently verified.
Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan says the rules of engagement with Syria have changed
Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP: "This is the first
time that the regime has used artillery in fighting so close to the
capital.
"This development is important because it's the heaviest fighting in the area and close to the heart of the capital."
Heavy shelling was also reported in Homs, where the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) last week tried unsuccessfully to arrange the evacuation of civilians.
The ICRC said on Tuesday it was returning to the city for a fresh attempt.
Earlier, Mr Erdogan spoke of Turkey's "rage" at Syria's decision to shoot down the F-4 Phantom last Friday and described Syria as a "clear and present threat".
"A short-term border violation can never be a pretext for an attack," he said.
He said the Turkish jet had been on a training flight, testing Turkey's radars in the eastern Mediterranean.
Mr Erdogan said Turkey was adopting a "common sense" attitude, but that "shouldn't be perceived as a weakness".
Nato 'solidarity' "Every military element approaching Turkey from the Syrian border and representing a security risk and danger will be assessed as a military threat and will be treated as a military target," he said.
Syria insists the F-4 Phantom was shot down inside Syrian airspace.
Nato, of which Turkey is a member, convened an emergency meeting of its ambassadors on Monday and afterwards expressed "strong solidarity" with Ankara.
Relations between Syria and Turkey were already highly strained before the F-4 was shot down.
The jet crashed into the eastern Mediterranean and its two pilots are missing.
The Russian foreign ministry said on its website on Tuesday that the downing of the plane should not be seen "as a provocation or a premeditated action".
Russia is a close ally of Syria and, together with China, has blocked UN Security Council resolutions condemning Damascus for the continuing violence.
end full quote from:
Syria crisis: Fierce fighting erupts near Damascus
Syria crisis: Fierce fighting erupts near Damascus
Aid agencies say civilians are being trapped by fighting in Syria's cities
Fierce fighting has been reported between Syrian troops and rebel forces in the suburbs of the capital Damascus.
Witnesses say it is some of the most intense violence in the
area since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began more
than a year ago.Reports from activists, which cannot be verified, say rebels clashed with Syria's elite Republican Guard.
The violence came as Turkey issued a stark warning to its neighbour Syria over the downing of a jet last week.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told parliament that if Syrian troops approached Turkey's borders, they would be seen as a military threat.
In other developments on Tuesday:
- The head of UN peacekeeping operations, Herve Ladsous, said the monitoring mission in Syria would remain suspended because of mounting violence
- Russia said its foreign minister Sergei Lavrov would attend an international conference on Syria which special envoy Kofi Annan hopes to hold in Geneva on 30 June
Correspondents say it is rare for fighting to take place near Republican Guard bases and suggests a growing confidence among the rebels.
The elite Republican Guard, commanded by President Bashar al-Assad's younger brother Maher, is tasked with protecting the capital.
State TV confirmed the fighting but said dozens of "terrorists" had been killed and many others taken prisoner, including foreign fighters.
It said large numbers of armed rebels had moved into al-Hama and tried to take control of a main road to the west in order to bring in more arms and fighters.
The Observatory said that 10 people had been killed by shelling in Qadsaya and some 58 people had died in violence across Syria on Tuesday - 24 soldiers, 30 civilians and four rebels. The figures cannot be independently verified.
Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan says the rules of engagement with Syria have changed
"This development is important because it's the heaviest fighting in the area and close to the heart of the capital."
Heavy shelling was also reported in Homs, where the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) last week tried unsuccessfully to arrange the evacuation of civilians.
The ICRC said on Tuesday it was returning to the city for a fresh attempt.
Earlier, Mr Erdogan spoke of Turkey's "rage" at Syria's decision to shoot down the F-4 Phantom last Friday and described Syria as a "clear and present threat".
"A short-term border violation can never be a pretext for an attack," he said.
He said the Turkish jet had been on a training flight, testing Turkey's radars in the eastern Mediterranean.
Mr Erdogan said Turkey was adopting a "common sense" attitude, but that "shouldn't be perceived as a weakness".
Nato 'solidarity' "Every military element approaching Turkey from the Syrian border and representing a security risk and danger will be assessed as a military threat and will be treated as a military target," he said.
Syria insists the F-4 Phantom was shot down inside Syrian airspace.
Nato, of which Turkey is a member, convened an emergency meeting of its ambassadors on Monday and afterwards expressed "strong solidarity" with Ankara.
Relations between Syria and Turkey were already highly strained before the F-4 was shot down.
The jet crashed into the eastern Mediterranean and its two pilots are missing.
The Russian foreign ministry said on its website on Tuesday that the downing of the plane should not be seen "as a provocation or a premeditated action".
Russia is a close ally of Syria and, together with China, has blocked UN Security Council resolutions condemning Damascus for the continuing violence.
end full quote from:
Syria crisis: Fierce fighting erupts near Damascus
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