Turkey says NATO has prepared plan in case of an attack on its borders

Published October 06, 2014

ANKARA, Turkey Turkey, a NATO member, says the alliance has drawn up a strategy to defend the country if it is attacked along its border with Syria.

Defense Minister Ismet Yildiz said Monday that NATO did that at Turkey's request as Islamic State militants, who have captured a large swath of Iraq and Syria, are trying to take the Syrian town of Kobani near the Turkish border.

NATO is required to help protect member countries from military attacks.

Yildiz told reporters: "If there is an attack, NATO's joint defense mechanism will be activated."

Kurdish forces are defending Kobani, but two banners of the Islamic State group were raised over a building and a nearby hill on Monday, suggesting that the militants may have broken through the Kurdish perimeter.

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Turkey says NATO has prepared plan in case of an attack on its borders