Human rights groups say at least 28,000 people have disappeared in Syria after being abducted by soldiers or militia during the 19-month conflict between Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and rebels seeking to topple him. Turkey, meanwhile, has fired into Syria after a Syrian mortar shell landed just inside its border. Tensions had previously risen between the two countries after a similar blast from Syria killed five Turkish civilians earlier this month. Turkey and Iran have both declared support for a plan by U.N.-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi that would see a holiday ceasefire between the rebels and the Syrian government. During a trip to the region Wednesday, Brahimi warned the turmoil in Syria could spread.

Lakhdar Brahimi: “The neighboring countries have two concerns. First, no one can ignore the pains the Syrian people are suffering now. I don’t think any person is happy with what’s going on inside Syria. Secondly, those countries should realize, as we have heard from officials today in Lebanon, that this crisis cannot remain within Syrian borders indefinitely. Either it will be addressed, or it will overflow…and be all-consuming.”