Rocketing tension

ON Oct 3, a mortar shell crossed from Syria into Turkey and smashed into Zeliha Timucin’s home, killing Timucin, her sister, and three of her kids.

Syrian forces fired the mortar while fighting rebels near the border. Though their stray shells had hit Turkish territory before, Timucin and her family were the first to be hurt.

Turkey responded angrily, pounding Syrian military targets with artillery and threatening more attacks. The government then pushed a bill through parliament that authorised it to send in troops. Turkish officials billed these aggressive moves as a way to send Syria a message — that its shells should never hit Turkey again.