Assad - "We're in a real war"

He announced "tremendous anger" on would react with Turkey on the launch of their fighters from the Syrian coast. Immediately after Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan ordered troop movements towards the Syrian border. Of course, it initially looked more like saber rattling because after threatening military action. Reported was the troop convoy, also on video, by the pro-government Turkish news agency Cihan who attacked Turkish and Israeli media on it, and so the effect was perfect: a strong, angry Turkey responded decisively to what Erdogan a "hostile act" calls. Upon closer inspection, however, the extent of the march was limited. Of 15 tanks was talk, and were on the recordings at first only those visible from the antiquated type M-48 Patton. The report said there had also been placed howitzers.

A rhetorical massive response

All in all, it fits into the scheme only a powerful rhetorical response: strong language, media attention, but otherwise inconsequential NATO meeting in Turkey's desire, the smaller but highly mediated troop movements. Shall respect one's face without having to actually do something. In Syria, however, seemed to be the installation of tanks and troops are indeed registered. Even as Erdogan of "Turkish anger," said flared, near Damascus, heavy fighting. Never was so close to the center of the regime have been fought so hard and durable. Rebels blocked a road from Damascus to Beirut. Rebels attacked a private, but pro-regime TV station whose studios are located 20 kilometers south of Damascus, media reported three to seven deaths. Overall, information came to opposition on Tuesday alone 135 people died.

Assad calls from a state of war

President Bashar al-Assad, meanwhile, called the state of war: "We are in a real war, from all sides," he said just before his Cabinet reshuffled. The totality of the policy, "all parties and sectors" should now be focused on winning this war. With "all sides" Assad said, certainly also to Turkey.Without it the battle of the rebels against the regime would hardly be maintained. Turkey granted the rebels on Turkish territory safe havens. The Syrian opposition has offices in Istanbul and the Syrian army says it free for a long time that it waits for a "green light" from Ankara to return to the last storm to blow on the regime. And the CIA supported the rebels, according to reports of the "Washington Post" with weapons and information. And that may be concluded Assad that Ankara has given for the plane shooting down by the Syrians, the signal for full offense. According to Turkish media reports, Syria has reinforced its troops on the border with Turkey much, probably, to prevent a mass exodus. But above all it is an expression of the Syrian concern that the decisive blow when he comes, will come from Turkey, in the guise of collecting and organizing there Syrian volunteers.

No rapid departure of the Syrian government

U.S. intelligence agencies do not expect a rapid departure of the Syrian government. Despite a number of desertions, the structures remained stable and the majority of the armed forces would be loyal to the government Assad. The Syrian army had learned from the counterinsurgency, how to deal with it is. However, the insurgents would be more and more. But what if Assad and the hardliners around him have the end in mind? Could they try to retaliate against Turkey? It could well be imagined only as a last-ditch win, because the ailing Syrian conflict with Turkey, not the much stronger. But shows the aircraft firing on Friday that Damascus may well strike against those it perceived as the aggressor, Turkey.

Conference on the Annan Plan

In order to save his peace plan but still, the international envoy to Syria, Kofi Annan, the five veto powers in the Security Council and representatives of Arab states to a conference on the situation in the country has called together. Two and a half months after the cease-fire agreement for Syria to violence there has risen in the opinion of the UN even more. The six-point plan will not be implemented clearly Annan said the UN Deputy Envoy to the country, Jean-Marie Guehenno, on Wednesday before the UN Human Rights Council. On Saturday, the five veto powers in the Security Council - to advise and Turkey, and representatives of the Arab League, including diplomats from Iraq, Kuwait and Qatar, on ways to stop the bloodshed in Syria - United Kingdom, China, France, Russia and the United States.  Even UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will attend the Conference of the Action Group for Syria in Geneva. However, were not invited, Iran and Saudi Arabia. Annan had initially proposed to also include in the discussions on Iran, U.S. sources said an invitation but made from the consent of the United States and Russia dependent. For Berlin, it was said that Germany would want to discuss at the meeting at which political solutions do not participate.