The head of Turkey’s military is vowing to respond with more attacks if mortar fire from Syria continues to hit Turkish territory. Speaking earlier today, Turkey’s chief of staff said Turkish forces would use “greater force” in the event that shelling from Syria hits the Turkish side of the border. Turkey has launched strikes inside Syria and deployed additional troops to its border after shelling last week from Syria killed five Turkish civilians. At a summit in Belgium, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said his military alliance is prepared to act against Syria to defend Turkey, but declined to specify any details.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen: “We have taken the steps necessary to make sure that we have all plans in place to protect and defend Turkey. But I think you understand very well why we can’t go into details when it comes to such plans. But obviously Turkey can rely on alliance solidarity. But let me stress once again, the focus of the international community should be to find a political solution to the conflict in Syria. It’s absolutely outrageous what we are witnessing there.”