Tension between Turkey and Syria has been steadily rising over the past year and a half as cross-border incidents have increased with every passing day drawing the two countries ever so closer to the brink of an all out war, along with all the dangers that accompany such a misadventure.

There is far more at stake than the two countries concerned as a generalized conflagration would almost certainly draw in other nations into the conflict, the outcome of which is unpredictable.  In the event of an open war between Turkey and Syria, Turkey, a full-fledged member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, could call on NATO forces for assistance. And under the NATO charter the alliance would have no choice but to deploy forces alongside

Read more: Turkey-Syria on the Brink of War.