Rasmussen Says NATO Has Plans To Defend Turkey If Needed

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen (file photo)

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has said Turkey could rely on NATO solidarity, adding that the military alliance had "all necessary plans in place to protect and defend Turkey if necessary."

Rasmussen was speaking to reporters ahead of a meeting of NATO defense ministers opening in Brussels on October 9.

The two-day talks come amid growing tensions between Syria and NATO member Turkey.

Turkey's military reportedly launched a retaliatory strike after Syria fired a mortar bomb into countryside across the border on October 8.

It was the sixth consecutive day of Turkish retaliation against bombardment from the Syrian side of the border, where President Bashar al-Assad's forces are fighting against rebels.

Based on reporting by Reuters, dpa, and IFEX