An officer directs operations as Turkish tanks deploy on the Syrian border. Photo: AFP <\/p>\n
Ankara: The NATO alliance has drawn up a strategy to defend Turkey if it is attacked along its border with Syria, a Turkish official says. <\/p>\n
Defence Minister Ismet Yilmaz, whose country is a NATO member, said the alliance did that at his government's request as Islamic State militants, who have captured a large swath of Iraq and Syria, are trying to take the Syrian town of Kobane near the Turkish border. <\/p>\n
\"If there is an attack, NATO's joint defence mechanisms will be activated,\" Mr Yilmaz told reporters. <\/p>\n
Turkish tanks line up on a hill overlooking the Syrian city of Kobane, near the Turkish border. Photo: AFP <\/p>\n
\"From the moment the incidents relating to Syria first started, we asked NATO to prepare for possibilities to make plans. NATO prepared a plan taking various alternatives into account. <\/p>\n
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\"Therefore, if there is an attack on Turkey, NATO will bring about the provisions of Article 5 of the Washington Convention.\" <\/p>\n
Article 5 states that an attack against one NATO member shall be considered an attack against all members. <\/p>\n
A Kurdish man watches fighting in Kobane. Photo: AFP <\/p>\n
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NATO has plan to defend Turkey: official<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" An officer directs operations as Turkish tanks deploy on the Syrian border. Photo: AFP Ankara: The NATO alliance has drawn up a strategy to defend Turkey if it is attacked along its border with Syria, a Turkish official says. Defence Minister Ismet Yilmaz, whose country is a NATO member, said the alliance did that at his government's request as Islamic State militants, who have captured a large swath of Iraq and Syria, are trying to take the Syrian town of Kobane near the Turkish border Continue reading