Thousands of Syrian refugees are pouring across the border into Turkey, fleeing for their lives in fear of being attacked by the military of Bashar al-Assad.

The Damascus government claimed that residents of the village of Jisr al-Shughur had “requested” the troops to come there in order to ensure stability. Assad is reportedly seeking revenge for the killing of 120 security personnel by “armed gangs” in the city a few days ago.

Meanwhile, Turkey braces for more arrivals from Syria as the crisis in that country deepens. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan has vowed he would welcome the refugees.