Turkish army shells Syria in response to mortar attack

Turkish soldiers stand guard on the Turkish-Syrian border near Akcakale Credit: Reuters/Murad Sezer

The Turkish army fired more shells across the border into Syria yesterday - and its government authorised Turkish troops to cross it if necessary.

Both actions were in response to a Syrian mortar attack.

The mortar shell fell on the Turkish town of Akcakale, killing three girls, their mother and another woman.

Turkish forces responded with a sustained bombardment of a Syrian military base near Tal Abyad. Several Syrian soldiers are thought to have died.

Our international correspondent John Irvine reports: