War talk mounts between Turkey and Syria

Turkey’s Prime Minister announced Tuesday that any Syrian armed forces approaching its borders would be perceived and treated as a direct military threat. 

According to the Associated Press NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen backed Turkey’s position without confirming armed support.

Tensions between Turkey and Syria boiled over last week after the downing of a Turkish reconnaissance jet by Syrian state forces.  President Bashar Assad’s military insist the reaction was a result of the military plane’s surprise incursion into Syrian airspace.

Turkey admits to entering momentarily by accident but claims the shooting happened while the aircraft was headed home over international air space.  Supposedly a Turkish search and rescue helicopter was targeted without success too.

Turkey has called for Assad to step down in the war against his regime and plays host to thirty three thousand Syrian refugees including some rebel forces.