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World Bulletin / News Desk

The Turkish military on Tuesday began sending reinforcements to the Syrian border after Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan warned that any Syrian military unit approaching its border will be treated as a direct threat to Turkey.

The private Cihan news agency said some 15 military vehicles, including tanks and cannons, were dispatched to the border from Diyarbakır through Mardin. Tensions between Turkey and Syria hit a new low last week when the latter downed a Turkish jet in international airspace.

Erdoğan said on Tuesday that Turkey will no longer tolerate security threats from Syria along its border, further escalating tensions. “The rules of engagement for the Turkish Armed Forces [TSK] have changed,” Erdoğan said. “Any military element that approaches the Turkish border from Syria by posing a security risk and danger will be regarded as a threat and treated as a military target.”