The Syrian Conflict Could Spread, U.S. Defense Secretary Warns

With more artillery exchanges taking place between Turkey and Syria over the weekend, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta voiced concern about a possible spill-over of the conflict in Syria into neighboring countries.

An artillery shell fired from across the Syrian border once more landed in the district of Akçakale in Urfa on Sunday, the same district in southeastern Turkey where a shell fired from Syria had killed five civilians and wounded 10 last Thursday, prompting the Turkish government to start firing back against army positions inside the Arab country.

The shell landed before the offices of the Turkish Grain Board (TMO,) causing no injury or loss of lives in the area. Nevertheless, the Turkish military responded back with artillery fire, while schools in the district were shut down for the day, according to reports.

More shells fired from the Syrian border also landed in the southern province of Hatay on Friday and Saturday, with Turkish security forces returning fire on each occasion.

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, on the other hand, issued a statement about the matter on Saturday:

The continued exchange of artillery fire between Syria and Turkey raises additional concerns that the conflict may escalate and spread to neighboring countries, he said, adding that the U.S. was using its diplomatic channels to relay worries about the fighting in the hopes that it will not broaden, according to the daily Washington Post.

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle also expressed his worries with regards to the ongoing developments and said the situation on the Turkish-Syrian border was extremely serious, while speaking to the Bild am Sonntag.

PM Erdoğan: "What Peace?"

Meanwhile, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan responded to the calls for peace made by thousands of protesters who poured onto the streets last week in wake of the artillery exchanges and shellings in the border area:

"We are not warmongers, but we are not far from war either. My citizens end up as martyrs, and we are still going to talk about peace. What peace?" Prime Minister Erdoğan exclaimed on Friday.

"This was not anything that could be staved off with an official memorandum anymore. We had responded to the previous [shellings] in kind, and this time we also responded to them in kind so as to hurt them," he said, according to the broadcasting station NTV.

Prime Minister Erdoğan also invoked the words of Turkey's founder Atatürk: "Peace at home, peace abroad."

"That only happens in places where peace reigns. We cannot speak about peace where they keep pushing our buttons," he said, adding that one must be prepared for war if one wants peace.

"We are not going to ignore any venture that could tarnish our country's reputation... This nation has made it until this day, at times by fighting in intercontinental wars," Prime Minister Erdoğan said.

Prime Minister Erdoğan also criticized the main opposition People's Republican Party (CHP) and the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) for their refusal to support a motion to authorize the government to deploy troops abroad last week.

"Those who support [the al-Assad regime] are sinking futher with each passing day. We are not bluffing. We are going to pursue this matter till the end. The main opposition party is behaving like a spokesperson for [Syria...] When Syria is on the table, the fraternity between the CHP and the BDP once more flared up," he said. (AS/EKN)