Turkey has authorized further military action against Syria as it continued to fire artillery across the border for a second day Thursday in retaliation for a mortar blast that killed five Turkish civilians. Turkish police used tear gas to disperse antiwar protesters near the Turkish parliament, while lawmakers overwhelmingly backed a measure allowing the military to conduct cross-border actions. Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said the country was attempting to deter further violence.

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan: “Turkey wants peace and only peace in the region, as well as safety. This is our sole concern. We don’t want war, and we never would. The consequence of the wars in the region, in Iraq and Afghanistan, is obvious. The parliamentary authorization of foreign deployment of Turkish troops is intended solely as a deterrent. As you are aware, one of the most important instruments to prevent clashes is deterrence.”