As if the situation in the east Mediterranean were not already tense enough, matters were further complicated on 22 June when, in circumstances which remain mysterious almost a week later, the Syrians shot down a Turkish fighter over the sea. The Turks' initial reaction was cautious, and they were careful to stress, as deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc put it on 25 June, that "whatever is needed to be done will be done within the framework of international law. We have no intention of going to war with anyone." Nonetheless, the next day Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan concluded that "our plane was targeted on purpose and in a hostile way, and not as a result of a mistake" and warned that "our a rational response should not be perceived as weakness…everybody should know that Turkey's wrath is just as strong and devastating as its friendship is valuable."

In more practical terms – and since diplomatic relations between the two countries could hardly be any worse – Mr Erdogan also announced that the rules of engagement for Turkey's armed forces had been amended and that "every military element approaching Turkey from the Syrian border and representing a security risk and danger will be assessed as a military threat and will be treated as a military target."

Charles Snow