All options on table, including right to retaliation

ANKARA - Hürriyet Daily News

AA photo

The Turkish government said that all options against Syria were on the table, including the right to military retaliation, also vowing to keep its rights stemming from international law reserved.

“Turkey will protect itself within international law,” Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç said following a Cabinet meeting, adding that Syria’s downing of a Turkish jet could not be left unpunished.

“Syria shot down our unarmed jet in a cold-blooded and hostile way in international airspace. International law is on our side. Turkey will not hesitate to take its steps to this end,” Arınç told reporters at a press conference.

“We do not favor making war calls. We do not intend to make war with anybody,” Arınç said, insisting that the government would make it an international case.

A government spokesman also said it had been clarified that Syria had shot down a Turkish jet by a strong laser or heat-guided missile in international waters, and made an open call to all third parties with radar tracks to challenge Turkey if they had any other data.