Turkish Border Guards Retaliate to Syrian Gunfire in Lattakia

Damascus condemns recent attacks by Turkey as Ankara defends its escalation of military action inside Syrian territory

Turkish border guards have responded to fire from Syrian forces targeting a border outpost in the Yayla Dagi district in southern Hatay province.


According to security sources, the shooting took place last night with light weapons from the regime-held countryside of Lattakia, while no casualties have been reported.


Clashes between the Syrian regime and the opposition forces continue in the region, where the exchange of gunfire can be heard from over the Turkish border.


Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal al-Mikdad declared that any Turkish action inside Syrian territory "without prior coordination" would be considered an act of aggression, pro-regime al-Watan newspaper reported.


Mikdad called on Turkey to "respect Syrian sovereignty", accusing Ankara of using recent Islamic State (ISIS) attacks as a pretext for escalating military action.


Ankara explained the Turkish air raids against ISIS positions in Syria in a letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, stating: "the Syrian government is either unable or unwilling to face ISIS", adding, "Article 51 of United Nations Charter gives individual or collective countries the right of self-defense against armed attacks".


Translated and edited by The Syrian Observer

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