Turkey Strikes Syria, Adds War Powers - Wall Street Journal [getdailynow.blogspot.com]
By EMRE PEKER And NOUR MALAS
![[image]](http://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-UV605_newsyr_G_20121004100432.jpg)
Reuters Turkish armoured personnel carriers take positions on the Turkish-Syrian border near the Akcakale crossing on Thursday.
Men stood outside a house Thursday that was damaged by a mortar bomb in the southern town of Akcakale.
ISTANBULâ€"Turkey attacked targets inside Syria for a second day Thursday and its parliament authorized the government to launch military offensives into foreign countries, further escalating cross-border tensions a day after Syrian shells took a deadly toll in a Turkish border town.
Turkey conducted nearly 12 hours of artillery attacks that lasted into early Thursday, according to residents in Akcakale, a southern Turkish border town that has become the center of tensions between Turkey and Syria. Shells from Syrian regime forces hit Akcakale on Wednesday, killing five Turkish citizens, Turkey's government says. Turkey said it mounted its own shelling in response, striking what it said was a Syrian army position several kilometers inside Syrian territory from Akcakale.
Turkey's attacks struck a Syrian military forward operating base in Tal Abyad, about 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) away from Turkey's border, killing 14 Syrian soldiers in the attack, Syrian rebel fighters said Thursday.
Turkish forces shelled targets inside Syria after Syrian mortar rounds killed five people in a Turkish border town. Joe Parkinson and Charles Levinson report on the News Hub. (Photo: AP)
WSJ's Joe Parkinson reports from the site where a Syrian mortar shell landed on a family home in Akcakale, Turkey. Via #WorldStream.
Some of these rebel fighters, reached in Tal Abyad by telephone, also said they helped provide information to the Turkish military on the coordinates of the artillery baseâ€"which was moved from its original position after the first Turkish strike on Wednesdayâ€"and continued to coordinate with the Turks on the movements of the base, which local fighters are still pursuing. Turkey has said they located targets using radar.
These rebel claims can't be independently verified. Syrian government officials didn't respond to requests for comments on whether there were any military casualties in the Turkish attacks.
Turkey's foreign ministry didn't have information on whether there were casualties on the Syrian side, according to spokesman Selcuk Unal. Turkey's General Staff wasn't available to comment after regular business hours.
Ankara's hawkish stance toward Syria contrasts with its response to the downing of a Turkish jet in June, when the government and armed forces issued contradicting statements and didn't take action.
The summer's tensions did, however, prompt Turkey to announce new rules of engagement with Syriaâ€"which it put into effect Wednesday with its swift reprisal against shelling the originated in Syria. It remains unclear whether the strikes from Syria were on purpose, or errant shells launched during regime battles with rebels nearby.
Turkish soldiers arrive on Thursday for the funeral of the five civilians who were killed the previous day by a mortar bomb fired from Syria into the Turkish town of Akcakale.
Syria has told Russia that Wednesday's deadly mortar attack was a "tragic accident" that won't happen again, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Russian news agencies on Thursday. "We think it is of fundamental importance for Damascus to state that officially," Mr. Lavrov said.
Later in the day, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey's southern province of Hatay, an entry point for tens of thousands of Syrian refugees, was hit by a Syrian shell.
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"What kind of an accident is this? We invite all our friends to be sensitive about this matter," Mr. Erdogan said. "Turkey is a state that's capable of protecting its citizens and borders, no one should dare test our determination on this point."
Mr. Erdogan on Thursday secured a one-year mandate from parliament to send troops into foreign nations, citing rising national-security threats posed by the Syrian crisis. The move expanded the government's options in dealing with the Syrian crisis, adding offensive capabilities to the rules of engagement adopted over the summer, which are centered on defensive and retaliatory measures.
Turkish opposition parties dismissed the measure adopted Thursday as a "war bill" that would drag Turkey into another country's conflict. Turkish government officials quickly clarified, however, that the mandate doesn't signal an intention to go to war.
"This is not a resolution that licenses war. If you want security and peace, you must be ready for a fight at all times," said Huseyin Celik, a lawmaker and spokesman for the governing Justice and Development Party, or AKP. "There shouldn't be panic as if there's a war at our doorstep."
The stern legislative warningâ€"followed by officials' softeningâ€"underscored Turkey's limited scope in dealing with the Syrian crisis on its own, analysts said.
"Subsequent statements make the measure look like it's a threat, but then comes a statement that this is not a war bill. What it boils down to is this: I'm shouting at you, but nevermind that I'm shouting at you," said Salih Akyurek, a former army colonel and researcher at the Wise Men Center for Strategic Studies in Ankara. "If you're sending a message, just send the message."
"Turkey is under tremendous pressure and expects more support from the U.S. But I don't think it's there, because U.S. public opinion isn't supportive of any foreign intervention, they want efforts to concentrate on the economy. So, Obama's not going to tell Turkey 'go ahead, we're behind you,'" said Bulent Aliriza, director of the Turkey Project at the Center for Strategic & International Studies in Washington.
A Turkey-based fighter with the Farouk Brigade confirmed that the rebel group had been in touch with Turkish military on the Syrian forward operating base, which had shelled Tal Abyadâ€"causing stray fire to frequently fly across the border into Turkeyâ€"for three weeks.
"Everyone's focus has been on Tal Abyad because it's a very important crossing," the Farouk representative said. "If Tal Abyad falls for good, it would practically mean the entire border is in our hands." He said the crossing has become a relatively secure supply route for the rebels since they took it over in late August.
â€"Joe Lauria, Sam Dagher and Joe Parkinson contributed to this article.Write to Emre Peker at emre.peker@dowjones.com and Joe Parkinson at joe.parkinson@dowjones.com
Suggest Turkey Strikes Syria, Adds War Powers - Wall Street Journal Issues Question by luv: How do you say "You're always welcome at my house" in Arabic? I know Marhaba but how do your say a sentence like" you're more than welcome to come by my house" or "my home is your home"... Transliteration please Thank you!!! Best answer for How do you say "You're always welcome at my house" in Arabic?:
Answer by Stewie Griffin
Marhaba means hi. When someone visits you at home you gotta tell him "Ahlan Wa Sahlan" and it means welcome, but mostly it's used for guests only. Also Egyptians use the phrase "El beet..beetak" and it means the house is yours.
Answer by Pinky
If someone says they wanna come over you reply: "Ahla wa sahla" And if they've arrvied at ur house u reply: Ahlaan wa sahlaan And to say'' my home is your home " - "El'baet baytak" for male El'baet baytik - for female El'baet baytkoun - for plural
Answer by Aminah
Allah Yehayyek Dayeem fe Baity this is the closest to you are always welcome at my house.
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