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Summary NATO, in an emergency meeting, has backed Turkey and called on Syria to respect international law.
NATO in an emergency meeting Wednesday backed Turkey and called on Syria to respect international law after a Syrian shell hit a border town, killing five Turkish nationals and sparking retaliatory strikes.The Alliance continues to stand by Turkey and demands the immediate cessation of such aggressive acts against an Ally and urges the Syrian regime to end flagrant violations of international law, a NATO statement said after the meeting was called at member Ankaras request.The alliance said Syrias recent aggressive acts at NATOs southeastern border were a flagrant breach of international law and a clear and present danger to an ally.The most recent shelling... which caused the death of five Turkish citizens and injured many, constitutes a cause of greatest concern and is strongly condemned by all Allies, it added.Earlier, NATO head Anders Fogh Rasmussen had spoken to Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmed Davutoglu to express his strong condemnation of the incident in Akcakale town, a spokeswoman said.Turkey shelled Syria in retaliation for what it termed an attack too far.Our armed forces in the border region immediately retaliated against this heinous attack... by shelling targets spotted by radar, Turkeys prime ministers office said in a statement earlier.Turkey will never leave unanswered such provocations by the Syrian regime targeting our national security, in line with engagement rules and international law.The incident is the most serious between the two neighbours since June when Syria shot down a Turkish fighter plane with the loss of its two-man crew and Ankara took the matter to NATO.
