WASHINGTON
A White House official has said the United States extended firm support to its NATO ally Turkey as tensions escalated along the Turkish-Syrian border after a week of mortar and artillery trade between the two countries.
"NATO has made clear that the Syrian army's attack on Turkey's sovereignty is unacceptable. We stand on the side of our ally Turkey," Jay Carney, White House press secretary, told reporters on Wednesday.
Turkey's top general has vowed stronger retaliation in case of more Syrian fire from across the border.
Last week on Wednesday five Turkish civilians were killed -- all women and children -- when an errant Syrian mortar landed in the southern town of Akcakale.
Turkey has retaliated in kind against fire from northern Syria where pro-Assad forces are fighting Free Syrian Army.
