"The Turkish army fired at predetermined targets near Syria's Tal-Khalaf village (southwest of Ras al-Ain) with machine guns as part of the rules of engagement," The Turkish General Staff said in a statement issued on Friday.
According to Turkish Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey deployed military units along its border with Syria following clashes between a Syrian Kurdish armed group and al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front terrorists.
Hurriyet Daily News report added that Turkish F-16 jets and drones had been scrambled from southeastern Turkey for patrolling over the border.
Fierce clashes continue in northern Syria between Kurdish fighters and Takfiri militants who accuse all other Muslims of being infidels.
Also on Friday, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said the country would respond to any incident on its borders immediately.
"From now on, we will give necessary response to any threat, regardless of whatever group it comes from," the Turkish foreign minister stated.
The conflict in Syria started in March 2011, when pro-reform protests turned into a massive insurgency following intervention of western and regional states.
The unrest, which took in terrorist groups from across Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, has transpired as one of the bloodiest conflicts in recent history.
As the foreign-backed insurgency in Syria continues without an end in sight, the US government boosts its political and military support to Takfiri extremists.
Washington has remained indifferent about warnings by Russia and other world powers about the consequences of arming militant groups.
In an interview broadcast on Turkish television in April, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said that if the militants take power in Syria, they could destabilize the entire Middle East region for decades.
“If the unrest in Syria leads to the partitioning of the country, or if the terrorist forces take control… the situation will inevitably spill over into neighboring countries and create a domino effect throughout the Middle East and beyond,” he stated.
SHI/SHI