Turkey scrambles warplanes after blast on Syria border

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Several Turkish F-16 warplanes took off from base in southeastern Diyarbakir after large explosion close to Syrian border, local media reported on Sunday.

Turkey’s Sabah newspaper reported that the warplanes were headed toward Syrian border, according to Bloomberg news agency.

Meanwhile, the state hospital in border town of Reyhanli alerted to receive possible casualties from Syria following explosion, Milliyet newspaper reported, adding that a missile allegedly landed near Syrian village of Sarmade.

Earlier this week, Turkey beefed up a military presence along its southern border with Syria in anticipation of US-led strikes on the regime in Damascus, AFP news agency reported, citing local media.

A 20-vehicle convoy with a tank contingent was deployed to the border area of Yayladagi in Hatay province on Wednesday, and was followed by 15 more vehicles Thursday, Turkish news agency Dogan reported.

Syria's northwestern border with Turkey is one of the few areas on the frontier still in the hands of President Bashar al-Assad, according to the agency.

Meanwhile, state-run news agency Anatolia said an already enlarged troop presence on the southern border would also be reinforced.

(VoiceOfRussia)

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