It is believed that the vehicles in which the explosives detonated had Syrian number plates and exploded outside a municipal office and a post office. One exploded, then the other detonated fifteen minutes later. This is the second time that an attack has occurred in or near the town. Turkey is a supporter of the Syrian opposition but has clearly said that they do not want to become involved in the war within Syria. Syria has accused the Turkish government of supporting the rebels and is a safe haven for those who train against the Assad regime. It may be that Syria sees the Turks as the weak link that it can attack without retaliation.
Syria has possibly attacked Turkey again because of its siding with the Assad opposition and it is thought that Syria is attempting to cause unrest in the country by pitting Turks against Syrians which would then put pressure on the Turkish government to stop being a safe haven for refugees, cease the training of the rebels, stop the flow of arms into Syria, and stop supporting armed opposition groups. The Syrian Information Minister stated that, “Turkey was indirectly responsible,” which clearly shows that Syria is to blame and is attempting to lay the guilt elsewhere. Syria's government is openly admitting that Turkey was indirectly responsible, and is explaining it position that if Turkey was not involved with training, arming and supporting Syrian armed opposition groups, the attack would not have happened.
Also on May 11, press reports stated that Turkey will seek reprisals for the two car bombings in Reyhanli on the same day. NATO, the UK and the US have clearly stated that they support Turkey and pledged support. Syria, whom Turkey lays the blame, has denied the attacks, the Syrian Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi stating, “[Syria] did not commit and would never commit such an act because our values would not allow it.” Taking this from a regime that openly kills women and children, and bombs, rocket attacks, and air-strikes against innocent civilians, it is doubtful that people outside the country will believe them. It is presently uncertain in which direction Syria will be punished by Turkey as Turkey already supports the opposition against Assad but the options will be limited. One point that must be thought through is that if Syria does take revenge, it will then open the door to being sucked into the conflict with tit-for-tat attacks against one another. Although Syria may have carried out one atrocity too many and regret its actions in Reyhanli.
Paul Ashley