Turkey has stationed armored vehicles and heavy weapons at its Syrian border Friday, Oct 12, after the government received a mandate last week from Parliament approving military operations in foreign countries. The move comes on the heels of a Syrian mortar attack which left five civilians dead in the southeastern province of Şanlıurfa on Oct. 3.

Two-hundred and fifty tanks were deployed in locations in the Şanlıurfa, Mardin and Gaziantep provinces after the government ordered the military's readiness for a possible clash with Syrian forces. Artillery units were also sent to the region.

Besides, Turkey reportedly scrambled two fighter planes to the border with Syria on Friday after a Syrian military helicopter bombed the Syrian border town of Azmarin.