Turkey-Syria tensions escalate

Beirut: Turkish troops pounded targets in northern Syria two days in a row as Ankara sought parliamentary approval to engage in cross-border military operations “when deemed necessary.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an anti-regime watchdog organisation, claimed that an undetermined number of Syrian soldiers were killed, although Damascus refused to provide any clarifications.

Omran Zoabi, its minister of information, avowed that Damascus was looking into the origin of the deadly cross-border shelling, offering his government’s “sincere condolences to the families of the victims and to our friends the Turkish people.” He reiterated, however, that Syria insisted its neighbours respect its borders and stop “terrorists” from infiltrating the country.

This latest decision came after Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a three-and-half hour cabinet meeting on Wednesday, following the bombardment of the border town of Akcakale that killed five Turkish nationals, including a mother and her three children.

Reportedly, the shells were fired from Tal Al Abyad where intense fighting was under way between the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and elements of the Free Syrian Army (FSA).

As this was the second time that fire from Syria killed people inside Turkey since the March 2011 uprisings against the Baath regime, the Turkish government prepared to stage operations inside Syrian territory, which was the reason why Erdogan required parliamentary authorisation.

Under the Turkish constitution, operations launched by the army, such as routine Turkish strikes targeting Kurdish rebel bases in northern Iraq, for example, necessitated such mandates.

In April 2012, two Syrian nationals were killed on Turkish soil by stray bullets fired from the Syrian side, although it was unclear whether SAA or FSA units were responsible for that incident.

In a statement issued by the prime minister’s office, Ankara insisted: “Our armed forces in the border region immediately retaliated against this heinous attack... by shelling the targets spotted by radar.” “Turkey,” it clarified “will never leave unanswered such provocations by the Syrian regime targeting our national security, in line with engagement rules and international law.” “The last incident went too far,” Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc declared to the Anatolia News Agency, which further telegraphed official frustration.

In the event, these latest skirmishes highlighted a gradual escalation of tensions between Turkey and Syria, two neighbours with checkered ties.

Q & A

Will Ankara use its air force to bomb Syria

On 22 June 2012, Syria shot down a Turkish Air Force Phantom (RF-4) tactical reconnaissance jet (one of 40 in the fleet), killing both crewmen. Noticeably, Ankara chose not to retaliate at the time, given the mystery that surrounded the loss.

It was unclear, however, whether Ankara would now use its significant air force assets to bomb Syrian military targets as it bombed Kurdish facilities in Iraq on and off since 2003.

What did Turkey do to help Syrians

For nearly two years, Turkey welcomed Syrian refugees (now estimated to top the 100,000 figure), and repeatedly counselled Damascus to recognize that it confronted a ground-swelling revolution.

It pleaded for serious political reforms but remained wary of potential uprisings among its own 20 million plus Kurdish population whose irredentist sentiments were painstakingly exploited by Damascus.

When did Turkey get tough with Syria?

On countless occasions, Ankara called on President Bashar Al Assad to respect the will of his people, leave power to a transition government, and allow Syrians to make alternative choices to the Baath Party.

As Al Assad hunkered down to fight until the last standing Syrian, pleas for compromises, or even giving senior Baath leaders safe passages out of the country, went by the wayside. Consequently, Turkey adopted tougher lines against Al Assad starting in mid-September, when Erdogan dismissed his counterpart, claiming that Al Assad was “politically dead.”

At the time, and although Erdogan stressed that Ankara expected “to see a transition government based on a fair constitution and a system in which people can pick their own candidates and set up political parties,” he publicised his long-term intentions.

Will Turkey introduce No fly zone

When asked whether Turkey would take unilateral action to introduce a no-fly zone, for example, Erdogan declared: “We don’t have such a plan. But if there is an attack against our country, we will respond in kind.” The possibilities for escalation of the conflict between Turkey and Syria were thus at an all time high, even if few experts believed that Ankara was ready to jump into the fray, without a clear international mandate.

When does Nato intervene?

Although Turkey demanded that the UN Security Council take action against Syria after Wednesday’s attacks, major power divisions precluded the adoption of a Chapter-7 resolution, which would authorise the use of force against Damascus. That was why Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu contacted Nato chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who called for an emergency meeting. Under Nato rules, an attack on any member is usually considered an attack against the entire alliance, with Articles 4 and 5 of the Nato treaty clarifying liabilities that the alliance assumes when one of its members is attacked.

Nato formally expressed “its strong condemnation” of the Syrian shelling, and affirmed that it stood by Turkey as it demanded “the immediate cessation of such aggressive acts against an ally.” It also urged “the Syrian regime to end flagrant violations of international law,” in a statement issued late Wednesday evening. It did not mobilise to authorise any emergency military interventions, however, as such actions would lead to the long debated—most notably at the UNSecurity Council—foreign intervention issue that created a the current global political wedge between Western power as well as Russia and China.

What does North Atlantic Treaty say

Article 4

The Parties will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties is threatened.

Article 5

The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defence recognised by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area.

-- Joseph A. Kéchichian, Senior Writer