Syrian Civilians Flee to Turkey as Assad's Forces Attack Populated Areas

The rebellion in Syria has spilt over into Turkey once again, and threatens to turn into a war between the two nations. Thousands of Syrians fled into Turkey as President Bashar al-Assad’s fighter jets attacked refugee camps, and populated areas near to the Turkish border, Turkish anti-aircraft gunners retaliated.

In an attempt to deter Syrian threats Turkey has asked NATO to deploy Patriot missile batteries along its border, a NATO team will begin to determine appropriate sites for the weapons platforms from tomorrow.

Turkey promises that the Patriot missile deployment is only aimed to deter threats, not enforce a no fly zone, or launch attacks. Tensions between the two neighbours have grown recently after a Turkish jet was shot down by Syrian forces in June, and mortar fire killed five Turks at the border in October.

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The latest attack by Assad’s forces came in response to the news that rebels had finally seized the 630MW hydroelectric Tishrin Dam, where fierce fighting had taken place since the 22nd of November.

Pierre Kraehenbuehl, director of operations at the Red Cross, has commented that Assad’s attacks are a cause for concern as they go against international rules of engagement which state that attacks may only be at “military objectives and not against civilians, or against civilian objects such as homes, schools, medical facilities and vehicles, community shelters or places of worship.”

By. James Burgess of Oilprice.com