A borderline war
The crisis in Syria is in danger of drawing in neighboring countries. Despite the Syrian government's immediate apology, the shelling on the Turkish border has led to concerns about possible escalation.
These weren't the first incidents on the Syrian-Turkish border, but the fact that several people on the Turkish side were killed by Syrian shells on Wednesday (03.10.2012) has brought the conflict between the two countries to a new level. It has led the Turkish military to retaliate for the first time. Several people were killed when Turkey shelled Syrian territory. But neither Turkey, which is a member of NATO, nor Syria would benefit from a broader conflict. An adviser to the Turkish president tweeted, "Turkey has no interest in a war with Syria." Volker Perthes, director of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs in Berlin, agrees: "Assad has no interest in an escalation," he told DW. "That can be seen from the fact that the Syrian information minister apologized and expressed his regret over the victims immediately after the attack on Turkish territory." Perthes doesn't think it's likely that the Syrian President, Bashar Assad, wants to provoke Turkey to intervene in Syria. "That would only accelerate the fall of his regime," he said. It's not yet clear who was responsible for the shelling. According to Syria's ally, Russia, it was a "tragic accident." Relationship damaged The armed incidents on the Syrian-Turkish border have been going on for months. According to Amnesty International, some 300,000 Syrians have left their country since the start of the uprising against Assad, and many of them have fled to Turkey. The relationship between the two countries, which used to be close, has deteriorated dramatically, and the Turkish government is now openly supporting the Syrian opposition. "Turkey is itself a player in the Syrian conflict," said Perthes. "It provides shelter for many refugees and it's through Turkey that supplies come for the opposition." NATO has lined up behind Turkey and told Syria to end its "flagrant violations of international law." Call for 'great discretion' The German chancellor, Angel Merkel, has also positioned herself alongside Turkey. "We call on all parties to show great discretion," she said in Berlin. The foreign minister, Guido Westerwelle, declared that everything must be done to deescalate the situation, so that the Syrian conflict did not turn into a conflagration in the region. Indeed, the Syrian crisis is not only spreading to Turkey, but also to Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon. According to Perthes, "The neighboring countries are partly victims and partly instigators. Jordan too has taken in refugees and supplies the rebels. On the other hand, Iraq has tended to support the government of Bashar Assad." Even so, he said, all the neighboring countries had an interest in ensuring the conflict was confined to Syria. Appeal to the international community But the number of Syrian refugees is rising by the day. Ruth Jüttner, a Middle East expert with Amnesty International, believes this will continue in future months. "It's important that the countries bordering on Syria are supported by the international community in providing accommodation, medical and psychological care and schooling for children," she told DW. It's an appeal she directs especially to European countries. The shelling on the Syrian-Turkish border has made it more likely that there will be armed conflict between Syria and its neighbors. According to Perthes, "It's probably the case that political resistance in Turkey to intervention in Syria is decreasing right now."
Syria
Syria Roman_Syria Syria_national_football_team Bilad_al-Sham Syria_(region) Ottoman_Syria Syrian_Arab_Federation_for_Football Syrian_Civil_War French_Mandate_for_Syria_and_the_Lebanon Syrian_Republic_(1946–1963) Mandatory_Syrian_Republic Syria–Lebanon_Campaign History_of_Syria Greater_Syria Arab_Kingdom_of_Syria Seleucid_Empire
Syrian
Turkish
Syrian
Turkish
Turkish
Syrian
Wednesday
03.10.2012
Turkish
Turkey
Turkey Turkey_national_football_team Turkey_(bird) Basketbol_Süper_Ligi Turkish_Football_Federation Turkey_as_food Ottoman_Empire Wild_turkey Turkey_national_basketball_team ISU_Junior_Grand_Prix_in_Turkey Domestic_turkey Turkey_national_under-21_football_team Turkey_Fed_Cup_team Turkey_national_under-19_football_team Turkey_women's_national_football_team Turkey_women's_national_volleyball_team
Syrian
Turkey
Turkey Turkey_national_football_team Turkey_(bird) Basketbol_Süper_Ligi Turkish_Football_Federation Turkey_as_food Ottoman_Empire Wild_turkey Turkey_national_basketball_team ISU_Junior_Grand_Prix_in_Turkey Domestic_turkey Turkey_national_under-21_football_team Turkey_Fed_Cup_team Turkey_national_under-19_football_team Turkey_women's_national_football_team Turkey_women's_national_volleyball_team
NATO
NATO NATO_reporting_name NATO_summit Ranks_and_insignia_of_NATO_navies_enlisted NATO_(album) International_Security_Assistance_Force Ranks_and_insignia_of_NATO_armies_enlisted Nato_wood N.A.T.o._(singer) Enlargement_of_NATO .nato 2002_Prague_summit Army_officer_ranks Ukraine–NATO_relations Ranks_and_insignia_of_NATO_navies'_officers United_States_Permanent_Representative_to_NATO
Syria
Syria Roman_Syria Syria_national_football_team Bilad_al-Sham Syria_(region) Ottoman_Syria Syrian_Arab_Federation_for_Football Syrian_Civil_War French_Mandate_for_Syria_and_the_Lebanon Syrian_Republic_(1946–1963) Mandatory_Syrian_Republic Syria–Lebanon_Campaign History_of_Syria Greater_Syria Arab_Kingdom_of_Syria Seleucid_Empire
Turkish
Turkey
Turkey Turkey_national_football_team Turkey_(bird) Basketbol_Süper_Ligi Turkish_Football_Federation Turkey_as_food Ottoman_Empire Wild_turkey Turkey_national_basketball_team ISU_Junior_Grand_Prix_in_Turkey Domestic_turkey Turkey_national_under-21_football_team Turkey_Fed_Cup_team Turkey_national_under-19_football_team Turkey_women's_national_football_team Turkey_women's_national_volleyball_team
Syria
Syria Roman_Syria Syria_national_football_team Bilad_al-Sham Syria_(region) Ottoman_Syria Syrian_Arab_Federation_for_Football Syrian_Civil_War French_Mandate_for_Syria_and_the_Lebanon Syrian_Republic_(1946–1963) Mandatory_Syrian_Republic Syria–Lebanon_Campaign History_of_Syria Greater_Syria Arab_Kingdom_of_Syria Seleucid_Empire
Volker Perthes
German Institute for International and Security Affairs
German_Institute_for_International_and_Security_Affairs
Berlin
Berlin Humboldt_University_of_Berlin Berlin_(band) German_Open_(WTA) Berlin,_New_Hampshire Berlin_Hauptbahnhof Olympiastadion_(Berlin) Berlin,_Connecticut Berlin_International_Film_Festival Berlin,_Maryland Berlin_(Lou_Reed_album) Berlin,_New_Jersey Berlin,_Massachusetts Berlin,_Wisconsin East_Berlin Battle_of_Berlin
Assad
Bashar_al-Assad Asad Salah_Assad Al-Assad_family Hafez_al-Assad Assad_Abdul_Ghanee Clarice_Assad Hamri_Al-Assad
DW
Drum_Workshop Deutsche_Welle DW-TV Defender_(association_football) Dreamworld_(Australian_theme_park) Data_warehouse Delhi_Wizards D.W._Read DW Discworld
Syrian
Turkish
Perthes
Perthes,_Ardennes Perthes,_Seine-et-Marne Perthes,_Haute-Marne Justus_Perthes_(publishing_company) Legg–Calvé–Perthes_disease Canton_of_Perthes Friedrich_Christoph_Perthes Georg_Perthes Justus_Perthes
Syrian
President
Bashar Assad
Bashar_al-Assad
Turkey
Turkey Turkey_national_football_team Turkey_(bird) Basketbol_Süper_Ligi Turkish_Football_Federation Turkey_as_food Ottoman_Empire Wild_turkey Turkey_national_basketball_team ISU_Junior_Grand_Prix_in_Turkey Domestic_turkey Turkey_national_under-21_football_team Turkey_Fed_Cup_team Turkey_national_under-19_football_team Turkey_women's_national_football_team Turkey_women's_national_volleyball_team
Syria
Syria Roman_Syria Syria_national_football_team Bilad_al-Sham Syria_(region) Ottoman_Syria Syrian_Arab_Federation_for_Football Syrian_Civil_War French_Mandate_for_Syria_and_the_Lebanon Syrian_Republic_(1946–1963) Mandatory_Syrian_Republic Syria–Lebanon_Campaign History_of_Syria Greater_Syria Arab_Kingdom_of_Syria Seleucid_Empire
Syria
Syria Roman_Syria Syria_national_football_team Bilad_al-Sham Syria_(region) Ottoman_Syria Syrian_Arab_Federation_for_Football Syrian_Civil_War French_Mandate_for_Syria_and_the_Lebanon Syrian_Republic_(1946–1963) Mandatory_Syrian_Republic Syria–Lebanon_Campaign History_of_Syria Greater_Syria Arab_Kingdom_of_Syria Seleucid_Empire
Russia
Russia Russian_Empire Russia_national_football_team Russia_men's_national_ice_hockey_team Russia_men's_national_junior_ice_hockey_team Tsardom_of_Russia Russia_national_rugby_union_team Russian_Soviet_Federative_Socialist_Republic Russian_Football_Union Russia_women's_national_football_team Russia_national_basketball_team Russia_national_rugby_league_team Russia_Fed_Cup_team Russia_national_cerebral_palsy_football_team Russia_national_handball_team Russia_Davis_Cup_team
Syrian
Turkish
Amnesty International
Amnesty_International Amnesty_International_Australia Amnesty_International_USA Amnesty_International_UK_Media_Awards Amnesty_International_New_Zealand
Syrians
Assad
Bashar_al-Assad Asad Salah_Assad Al-Assad_family Hafez_al-Assad Assad_Abdul_Ghanee Clarice_Assad Hamri_Al-Assad
Turkey
Turkey Turkey_national_football_team Turkey_(bird) Basketbol_Süper_Ligi Turkish_Football_Federation Turkey_as_food Ottoman_Empire Wild_turkey Turkey_national_basketball_team ISU_Junior_Grand_Prix_in_Turkey Domestic_turkey Turkey_national_under-21_football_team Turkey_Fed_Cup_team Turkey_national_under-19_football_team Turkey_women's_national_football_team Turkey_women's_national_volleyball_team
Turkish
Syrian
Turkey
Turkey Turkey_national_football_team Turkey_(bird) Basketbol_Süper_Ligi Turkish_Football_Federation Turkey_as_food Ottoman_Empire Wild_turkey Turkey_national_basketball_team ISU_Junior_Grand_Prix_in_Turkey Domestic_turkey Turkey_national_under-21_football_team Turkey_Fed_Cup_team Turkey_national_under-19_football_team Turkey_women's_national_football_team Turkey_women's_national_volleyball_team
Syrian
Perthes
Perthes,_Ardennes Perthes,_Seine-et-Marne Perthes,_Haute-Marne Justus_Perthes_(publishing_company) Legg–Calvé–Perthes_disease Canton_of_Perthes Friedrich_Christoph_Perthes Georg_Perthes Justus_Perthes
Turkey
Turkey Turkey_national_football_team Turkey_(bird) Basketbol_Süper_Ligi Turkish_Football_Federation Turkey_as_food Ottoman_Empire Wild_turkey Turkey_national_basketball_team ISU_Junior_Grand_Prix_in_Turkey Domestic_turkey Turkey_national_under-21_football_team Turkey_Fed_Cup_team Turkey_national_under-19_football_team Turkey_women's_national_football_team Turkey_women's_national_volleyball_team
NATO
NATO NATO_reporting_name NATO_summit Ranks_and_insignia_of_NATO_navies_enlisted NATO_(album) International_Security_Assistance_Force Ranks_and_insignia_of_NATO_armies_enlisted Nato_wood N.A.T.o._(singer) Enlargement_of_NATO .nato 2002_Prague_summit Army_officer_ranks Ukraine–NATO_relations Ranks_and_insignia_of_NATO_navies'_officers United_States_Permanent_Representative_to_NATO
Turkey
Turkey Turkey_national_football_team Turkey_(bird) Basketbol_Süper_Ligi Turkish_Football_Federation Turkey_as_food Ottoman_Empire Wild_turkey Turkey_national_basketball_team ISU_Junior_Grand_Prix_in_Turkey Domestic_turkey Turkey_national_under-21_football_team Turkey_Fed_Cup_team Turkey_national_under-19_football_team Turkey_women's_national_football_team Turkey_women's_national_volleyball_team
Syria
Syria Roman_Syria Syria_national_football_team Bilad_al-Sham Syria_(region) Ottoman_Syria Syrian_Arab_Federation_for_Football Syrian_Civil_War French_Mandate_for_Syria_and_the_Lebanon Syrian_Republic_(1946–1963) Mandatory_Syrian_Republic Syria–Lebanon_Campaign History_of_Syria Greater_Syria Arab_Kingdom_of_Syria Seleucid_Empire
German
chancellor
Angel Merkel
Turkey
Turkey Turkey_national_football_team Turkey_(bird) Basketbol_Süper_Ligi Turkish_Football_Federation Turkey_as_food Ottoman_Empire Wild_turkey Turkey_national_basketball_team ISU_Junior_Grand_Prix_in_Turkey Domestic_turkey Turkey_national_under-21_football_team Turkey_Fed_Cup_team Turkey_national_under-19_football_team Turkey_women's_national_football_team Turkey_women's_national_volleyball_team
Berlin
Berlin Humboldt_University_of_Berlin Berlin_(band) German_Open_(WTA) Berlin,_New_Hampshire Berlin_Hauptbahnhof Olympiastadion_(Berlin) Berlin,_Connecticut Berlin_International_Film_Festival Berlin,_Maryland Berlin_(Lou_Reed_album) Berlin,_New_Jersey Berlin,_Massachusetts Berlin,_Wisconsin East_Berlin Battle_of_Berlin
foreign minister
Guido Westerwelle
Guido_Westerwelle
Syrian
Syrian
Turkey
Turkey Turkey_national_football_team Turkey_(bird) Basketbol_Süper_Ligi Turkish_Football_Federation Turkey_as_food Ottoman_Empire Wild_turkey Turkey_national_basketball_team ISU_Junior_Grand_Prix_in_Turkey Domestic_turkey Turkey_national_under-21_football_team Turkey_Fed_Cup_team Turkey_national_under-19_football_team Turkey_women's_national_football_team Turkey_women's_national_volleyball_team
Iraq
Iraq Iraq_national_football_team Iraq_War Ba'athist_Iraq Kingdom_of_Iraq 2003_invasion_of_Iraq Iraq_Football_Association Mandatory_Iraq Iraq_national_under-23_football_team Iraqi_Republic_(1958–68) History_of_the_Jews_in_Iraq Anglo-Iraqi_War Flag_of_Iraq Iraq_national_under-20_football_team Australian_contribution_to_the_2003_invasion_of_Iraq Elections_in_Iraq
Jordan
Jordan Jordan_Grand_Prix Jordan_national_football_team Karl_Jordan Jordan_River Michael_Jordan David_Starr_Jordan Jordan_Football_Association Jordan,_Minnesota Joe_Jordan Katie_Price Jordan,_Hong_Kong List_of_years_in_Jordan Jordan_women's_national_football_team DeAndre_Jordan Jordan_national_basketball_team
Lebanon
Lebanon Lebanon_national_football_team Lebanon,_Pennsylvania A1_Team_Lebanon Lebanon,_Tennessee Lebanon,_New_Hampshire Lebanon_national_rugby_league_team Lebanon_County,_Pennsylvania Lebanon,_Ohio Lebanon,_Missouri Lebanon,_Connecticut Lebanon,_Kentucky Lebanon,_Oregon Lebanon_(2009_film) Lebanon,_Indiana Lebanon_national_basketball_team
Perthes
Perthes,_Ardennes Perthes,_Seine-et-Marne Perthes,_Haute-Marne Justus_Perthes_(publishing_company) Legg–Calvé–Perthes_disease Canton_of_Perthes Friedrich_Christoph_Perthes Georg_Perthes Justus_Perthes
Jordan
Jordan Jordan_Grand_Prix Jordan_national_football_team Karl_Jordan Jordan_River Michael_Jordan David_Starr_Jordan Jordan_Football_Association Jordan,_Minnesota Joe_Jordan Katie_Price Jordan,_Hong_Kong List_of_years_in_Jordan Jordan_women's_national_football_team DeAndre_Jordan Jordan_national_basketball_team
Iraq
Iraq Iraq_national_football_team Iraq_War Ba'athist_Iraq Kingdom_of_Iraq 2003_invasion_of_Iraq Iraq_Football_Association Mandatory_Iraq Iraq_national_under-23_football_team Iraqi_Republic_(1958–68) History_of_the_Jews_in_Iraq Anglo-Iraqi_War Flag_of_Iraq Iraq_national_under-20_football_team Australian_contribution_to_the_2003_invasion_of_Iraq Elections_in_Iraq
Bashar Assad
Bashar_al-Assad
Syria
Syria Roman_Syria Syria_national_football_team Bilad_al-Sham Syria_(region) Ottoman_Syria Syrian_Arab_Federation_for_Football Syrian_Civil_War French_Mandate_for_Syria_and_the_Lebanon Syrian_Republic_(1946–1963) Mandatory_Syrian_Republic Syria–Lebanon_Campaign History_of_Syria Greater_Syria Arab_Kingdom_of_Syria Seleucid_Empire
Syrian
Ruth Jüttner
Middle East
Middle_East Mediterranean_and_Middle_East_theatre_of_World_War_II Middle_Eastern_theatre_of_World_War_I Middle_East_Command Middle_Eastern_cuisine The_Middle_East_(nightclub) History_of_the_Middle_East Boomerang_(Middle_East_and_Africa) Western_Asia RAF_Middle_East_Command Middle_East,_Baltimore Ancient_Near_East Arab_Colombians Syria–Lebanon_Campaign Bangladeshis_in_the_Middle_East Middle_Eastern_studies
Amnesty International
Amnesty_International Amnesty_International_Australia Amnesty_International_USA Amnesty_International_UK_Media_Awards Amnesty_International_New_Zealand
Syria
Syria Roman_Syria Syria_national_football_team Bilad_al-Sham Syria_(region) Ottoman_Syria Syrian_Arab_Federation_for_Football Syrian_Civil_War French_Mandate_for_Syria_and_the_Lebanon Syrian_Republic_(1946–1963) Mandatory_Syrian_Republic Syria–Lebanon_Campaign History_of_Syria Greater_Syria Arab_Kingdom_of_Syria Seleucid_Empire
DW
Drum_Workshop Deutsche_Welle DW-TV Defender_(association_football) Dreamworld_(Australian_theme_park) Data_warehouse Delhi_Wizards D.W._Read DW Discworld
European
Syrian
Turkish
Syria
Syria Roman_Syria Syria_national_football_team Bilad_al-Sham Syria_(region) Ottoman_Syria Syrian_Arab_Federation_for_Football Syrian_Civil_War French_Mandate_for_Syria_and_the_Lebanon Syrian_Republic_(1946–1963) Mandatory_Syrian_Republic Syria–Lebanon_Campaign History_of_Syria Greater_Syria Arab_Kingdom_of_Syria Seleucid_Empire
Perthes
Perthes,_Ardennes Perthes,_Seine-et-Marne Perthes,_Haute-Marne Justus_Perthes_(publishing_company) Legg–Calvé–Perthes_disease Canton_of_Perthes Friedrich_Christoph_Perthes Georg_Perthes Justus_Perthes
Turkey
Turkey Turkey_national_football_team Turkey_(bird) Basketbol_Süper_Ligi Turkish_Football_Federation Turkey_as_food Ottoman_Empire Wild_turkey Turkey_national_basketball_team ISU_Junior_Grand_Prix_in_Turkey Domestic_turkey Turkey_national_under-21_football_team Turkey_Fed_Cup_team Turkey_national_under-19_football_team Turkey_women's_national_football_team Turkey_women's_national_volleyball_team
Syria
Syria Roman_Syria Syria_national_football_team Bilad_al-Sham Syria_(region) Ottoman_Syria Syrian_Arab_Federation_for_Football Syrian_Civil_War French_Mandate_for_Syria_and_the_Lebanon Syrian_Republic_(1946–1963) Mandatory_Syrian_Republic Syria–Lebanon_Campaign History_of_Syria Greater_Syria Arab_Kingdom_of_Syria Seleucid_Empire
Bashar Assad
Bashar_al-Assad
gender::male iptc::11000000 topic::politics type::entity type::head_of_state type::person type::politician
Syria
Syria
slot::keyword topic::none type::entity type::gpe type::gpe0 type::location
Turkey
Turkey
slot::keyword topic::none type::entity type::gpe type::gpe0 type::location
Volker Perthes
wikidata:Q106742
gender::male iptc::11000000 slot::head topic::politics type::entity type::person type::politics_per
Syrian
topic::none type::gpe0-x type::other
Turkish
topic::none type::gpe0-x type::other
Wednesday
topic::none type::time type::value
03.10.2012
topic::none type::time type::value
NATO
NATO
iptc::11000000 iptc::16000000 topic::conflict topic::politics type::entity type::igo type::military_alliance type::organization
German Institute for International and Security Affairs
German_Institute_for_International_and_Security_Affairs
iptc::11000000 topic::politics type::entity type::organization type::policy_institute
Berlin
Berlin
topic::none type::entity type::gpe type::gpe2 type::location
DW
Deutsche_Welle
topic::media type::entity type::media type::organization
President
topic::none type::role type::value
Russia
Russia
topic::none type::entity type::gpe type::gpe0 type::location
Amnesty International
Amnesty_International
iptc::11000000 topic::politics type::entity type::ngo type::organization
Syrians
topic::none type::gpe0-x type::other
German
topic::none type::gpe0-x type::other
chancellor
topic::none type::role type::value
Angel Merkel
Angela_Merkel
gender::female iptc::11000000 topic::politics type::entity type::head_of_gov type::person type::politician
foreign minister
topic::none type::role type::value
Guido Westerwelle
Guido_Westerwelle
gender::male iptc::11000000 policy::exterior topic::politics type::entity type::minister type::person type::politician
Iraq
Iraq
topic::none type::entity type::gpe type::gpe0 type::location
Jordan
Jordan
topic::none type::entity type::gpe type::gpe0 type::location
Lebanon
Lebanon
topic::none type::entity type::gpe type::gpe0 type::location
Ruth Jüttner
gender::female iptc::11000000 topic::politics type::entity type::person type::politics_per
Middle East
Middle_East
topic::none type::entity type::location type::regio
European
topic::none type::loc-x type::other
Germany