With Ankara acting as one of the principal cheerleaders for a military strike against Syria, and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowing Turkey’s participation in any military coalition, increasingly concerned Turks, unaware of what exactly the Turkish contribution will be, are bracing themselves for all possible consequences from a US-led operation against the Syrian regime.

Damascus’ chilling warning that Turkey will be a target should it participate in such an operation and the precautions the government has started to take along the 900 km border with Syria, including measures against possible chemical attacks, have also fueled public concern.

Adding to the general anxiety is the possibility that Turkey, which has officially declared it is hosting half a million Syrians, could face a new flood of refugees fleeing the wrath of the regime after a US-led strike.

Meanwhile, Erdogan, who lacks public support for a strike on Syria and already faces widespread dissatisfaction for not seeking parliamentary authorization for Turkey’s participation, faces additional pressure from the opposition, which is threatening to take to the streets and hold anti-war demonstrations across the country.