WASHINGTON

Principal deputy press secretary in the White House said regarding the mortar attack by Syria on Turkey's southeastern town of Akcakale near the Turkish-Syrian border that the United States understood that the Turks have taken some actions designed to ensure that their sovereignty was no longer violated by Syrian aggression.
"We stand shoulder to shoulder with them as they take those actions. They're certainly appropriate," said Josh Earnest, Special Assistant to the President and Principal Deputy Press Secretary in the White House Office of Communications.
"The United States condemns the violence and the aggressive actions of the Syrians. We certainly express -- the United States government certainly expresses our sympathy to the Turkish people for the lives that were lost," he said.
Earnest said, "As you know, the United Nations Security Council condemned this attack. And the North Atlantic Council at NATO issued a statement indicating that we're going to stand with our ally, Turkey, and demand that the aggressive actions of the Syrian regime come to an end."
"As I mentioned, it's our understanding that the measures that they have taken, the steps that they have taken are designed specifically to ensure that those acts of aggression that violate the sovereignty of that nation come to an end. And we do certainly stand behind Turkey as they take that action because we believe that action is appropriate," he said.