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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 16-Aug-2011
16-Aug-11 News -- Turkey threatens Syria, as military attacks Palestinian refugee camp

Web Log - August, 2011

16-Aug-11 News -- Turkey threatens Syria, as military attacks Palestinian refugee camp

Turkey issues very harsh, strongly worded implied threat to Syria

Turkey threatens Syria, as military attacks Palestinian refugee camp

The U.S. State Dept. has called "abhorrent and repulsive" the massive new military assault by the army and navy of Syria's president Bashar al-Assad on the port city of Latakia, according VOA.

Latakia's Ramleh district is pummeled with tank, gunboat and automatic weapons fire. (AFP)

Latakia's Ramleh district is pummeled with tank, gunboat and automatic weapons fire. (AFP)

Assad's forces have avoided the neighborhoods of Assad's Alawite sect, and instead have been targeting Sunni Muslim neighborhoods, including a large Palestinian refugee camp in Latakia's al-Ramel district. Five to ten thousand refugees were forced to flee, and their whereabouts are unknown, according to the BBC. Newspapers in the region have expressed anger about Arab states' failure to respond to events in Syria.

Another report indicates that Assad's security forces began ordering residents of the Ramleh region, which includes a refugee camp housing more than 10,000 Palestinians, to go to a soccer stadium ahead of what they described as a huge military operation. After the people were herded into the stadium, security forces took away their identification cards and cellphones. At least five people were confirmed dead, according to the LA Times

Turkey issues very harsh, strongly worded implied threat to Syria

Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has issued a stark warning to Syrian authorities to immediately halt military operations across the country or he said there will be nothing left to talk about the steps that would be taken in support of the Syrian people, according to Zaman:

"If these operations do not stop there will be nothing left to say about the steps that would be taken. This is our final word to the Syrian authorities, our first expectation is that these operations stop immediately and unconditionally.
In the context of human rights this cannot be seen as a domestic issue."

The last sentence is important because it establishes a justification for Turkish military action.

Davutoglu was essentially repeating what he said a week ago in connection with his visit to Syria on Tuesday. However, he did not specify what action Turkey would take if the attacks continue, and he stopped short of calling for Assad to step down, which is a demand of Syria's pro-democracy activists.

In the past few weeks, we've seen unconfirmed reports that (1) Turkey is talking about a military action to establish a buffer zone on Syrian soil, (2) Iran is threatening retaliation with missiles on Turkey, if such an action occurs, and (3) American assets in the Mediterranean and on bases in the region will be used to protect Turkey from the Iranian missiles. On Sunday, we quoted an unconfirmed report that this US-Turkish military operation would begin on August 27 if the slaughter hasn't stopped. This is speculative, of course, but what isn't speculative is that not only is the slaughter of civilians not ending, but in fact Assad seems to be getting more violent and bloody every day, which could well force the hand of even a reluctant Turkey.

(Comments: For reader comments, questions and discussion, see the 16-Aug-11 News -- Turkey threatens Syria, as military attacks Palestinian refugee camp thread of the Generational Dynamics forum. Comments may be posted anonymously.) (16-Aug-2011) Permanent Link
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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 16-Aug-2011 16-Aug-11 News -- Turkey threatens Syria, as military attacks Palestinian refugee camp

Turkey threatens Syria, as military attacks Palestinian refugee camp

Turkey issues very harsh, strongly worded implied threat to Syria

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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 16-Aug-2011
16-Aug-11 News -- Turkey threatens Syria, as military attacks Palestinian refugee camp