Turkey villages evacuated due to Syria fighting

CEYLANPINAR - The Associated Press

A picture taken from the Turkish border town of Ceylanpinar shows Smoke rising after Syrian aircraft bombed the strategic border town of Ras al-Ain, killing at least four people, wounding many others and sending panicked residents fleeing across to Turkey, on November 12, 2012. AFP photo

Turkish media say three villages along Turkey’s border with Syria have been evacuated to protect villagers from any spillover of fighting between Syrian government forces and rebels.
 
Meanwhile, an Associated Press video journalist in the Turkish border town of Ceylanpinar witnessed a Syrian air strike Wednesday in the adjacent Syrian town of Ras al-Ayn, where rebels say they have ousted troops loyal to President Bashar Assad. Deadly air strikes began several days ago.
 
Anadolu news agency and other Turkish media say several villages west of Ceylanpinar have been evacuated because of concerns about the fighting on the other side of the border.
 
Turkey’s defense minister, Ismet Yilmaz, says Turkey will deliver the "necessary response" if Syrian planes or helicopters cross into Turkish airspace, an indication that Turkey’s military would retaliate.