Tensions mounted on both sides of the Syria-Turkey border on Tuesday, with open talk of war in Damascus while its neighbour to the north said military action would follow any future violations of its territory.
"We live in a real state of war from all angles," Syrian President Bashar al-Assad told his cabinet on Tuesday, according to Reuters. "When we are in a war, all policies and all sides and all sectors need to be directed at winning this war."
Assad's remarks came amid heavy fighting outside the capital between rebel and government forces, and strong words from Turkey in response to the downing of one of its jets on Friday by Syrian forces.
"Any military element that approaches the Turkish border from Syria … will be regarded as a threat and treated as a military target," said Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Syria insists that the Turkish plane violated its airspace. Turkey maintains that although the unarmed RF-4E reconnaissance jet had unintentionally strayed into Syria's airspace, it was in international airspace when it was brought down.
Tuesday also saw Russia enter the war of words, albeit with a call for calm and restraint. Russia's Foreign Ministry said the loss of Turkey's jet should not be seen as a "provocation" by Syria, its close ally in the region.
"It is important that what happened is not viewed as a provocation or a premeditated action," said the ministry in a statement, according to Reuters.