Tensions had earlier flared between the Syrian regime and Turkey after shells fired from Syria landed on the Turkish side, killing five Turks, and prompting Germany, the Netherlands and the U.S. to send two batteries of Patriot air defense missiles each to protect their NATO ally.
Tensions between Macedonia's ethnic groups recently flared up over the construction of a church-shaped museum in Skopje's old fortress, which Albanians are unhappy about.