Syria

This column on Nov. 14, 2012, described Turkey?s border with Syria as the most dangerous frontier in the world, underlining the risks for the Turkish army at that time, while urging the Turkish government over provocative attempts aiming to drag it into its southern neighbor?s civil war.

One thing President Tayyip Erdo?an is good at is forcefully declaring what he will "not allow" - either in Turkey or its region. He did the same thing a couple of days ago regarding Syria. He vowed: "We will never allow the establishment of a state in Syria's north and our south. We will continue our fight in this regard no matter what it costs."

Sunni Islamist! And subservient to the emerging Turkish empire? Thus would reply your Turkish Islamist, so cheerfully, like a child being asked which chocolate, toy, game and cartoon film he would like.

No one should try to find any form of an excuse; it is aggression - to say the least - and definitely occupation, if the military of a country, for whatever purpose it might be, enters into the territory of another country without the invitation or permission of that country, or in the absence of a treaty allowing such an action.

As Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants plant mines on the Syrian border facing Turkey, the Turkish military has reinforced its presence on the other side of the barbed wire border amid a fresh political debate between the government and the opposition on taking military action in its neighbor. 

An Ankara penal court ordered the arrest of two people suspected of having links with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) on June 29. 

Identified as A.I. and D.D., the defendants were charged with "being a member of a terrorist organization."
D.D. refuted the accusations he was a member of the terrorist organization in testimony given to the court on June 29.

At least 10 people, including two children, were killed in Syrian government air strikes on the rebel-held Damascus suburb of Douma on June 30, a monitor said.  

Turkish coast guards captured 352 Syrian refugees headed to Europe on a boat in the Mediterranean on June 29.

The authorities received notice that several migrants were heading to sea off the Manavgat district of Antalya province. 

A senior spokesperson for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an?s office has indicated the presence of terrorist organizations such as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) was linked to the prevalence of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad?s regime in Syria.

The necessity of forming a new government does not constrain the incumbent Justice and Development Party (AKP) government from protecting the country?s interests, Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu said, while reiterating that Turkey was prepared for all necessary measures to tackle security threats along its borders.