Turkey won’t declare war on Syria: Turkish PM aide

ANKARA

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İbrahim Kalın, a senior adviser to Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, said today on his Twitter account that Turkey had no interest in a war with Syria but would protect its borders. He said political and diplomatic initiatives would continue, Reuters reported.

"Turkey has no interest in a war with Syria. But Turkey is capable of protecting its borders and will retaliate when necessary," Kalın wrote on Twitter. "Turkey has retaliated to yesterday's incident without declaring war on Syria. Political, diplomatic initiatives will continue."

Turkey’s Parliament was debating a bill to authorize the military to launch cross border operations in Syria, while Turkey resumed artillery shelling of Syrian targets near the border.

Meanwhile, the city was in silence after yesterday's bombing, an official reportedly said.

“Five people were killed while another ten were injured. Four of the deceased were buried. The region is silent now. There is no problem in the city center or in the tents. Those who were injured are being treated. Also tents of condolences were pitched. Currently, there is no military action,” an official from Şanlıurfa governor’s office said.