Islam Times - Turkey deploys military units along Syria border

Islam Times - Turkey has deployed military units along its border with Syria whose Army is engaged in intense fighting with insurgents as tensions in the region escalate.

On Saturday, the Turkish army deployed artillery and anti-aircraft missiles near a Syrian border post in the province of al-Raqa, which is being disputed between security forces and insurgents in fierce clashes.

The deployment is reportedly in an area where the Turkish media say artillery fire from Syria landed last week, causing panic among local residents.

Turkey has conducted a number of troop deployments in recent months along its 911-km border with Syria, where rebels are fighting to topple President Bashar al-Assad.

Ankara is accused of supplying insurgents fighting against the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad with military and communication equipment.

Turkey, along with Saudi Arabia and Qatar, has also set up a secret base near its border with Syria to send military supplies to anti-Syria groups.

Syria has been the scene of violence by armed groups since March 2011. The violence has claimed the lives of hundreds of people, including many security forces.

Damascus says outlaws, saboteurs, and armed terrorists are the driving factor behind the unrest and deadly violence while the opposition accuses the security forces of being behind the killings.