Syrian bombs send civilians fleeing
Syria has bombed a security building that had been taken over by rebels on the Turkish border, wounding at least 11 people and sending dozens of civilians fleeing across the frontier.
Earlier Lebanese soldiers exchanged fire with Syrian rebels across their border, fuelling concerns that the Arab Spring’s longest and deadliest revolt could spark a regional war.
The violence came as Russian president Vladimir Putin headed to Turkey for talks likely to be overshadowed by the two countries’ differences over Syria.
During talks with Mr Putin in Istanbul, Turkey is expected to press the Russian leader to stop backing Assad’s regime. The Kremlin, however, has shown no inclination to relinquish its support for its last Middle East ally, whom it has shielded from international sanctions and continued to provide with weapons amid the escalating civil war.
Since the uprising against president Bashar Assad began in March 2011, the fighting between Syrian rebels and regime troops has spilled into neighbouring countries on several occasions, including Turkey, Israel and Lebanon, Syria’s particularly vulnerable neighbour.
The mayor’s office in the Turkish border town of Ceylanpinar said a Syrian jet targeted a security building that has been taken over by the rebels, dropping two bombs on an area 300 yards from the Turkish border.
Turkish ambulances rushed to the border and least 11 wounded Syrians were taken to hospital.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said soldiers near the village of Qaa in the Bekaa Valley returned fire into Syria after “armed men” shot at them from across the frontier.
