By AYLA ALBAYRAK

ISTANBUL—Armored Turkish military units began moving toward the Syrian border, Turkish media reported Thursday, as tensions along the long border continued to escalate.
The increased military mobilization appeared to have taken its cue from Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who said on Tuesday that Ankara would perceive "any Syrian military elements" as a threat, and act accordingly, after Syria shot down a Turkish military jet on Friday.
State-run Anadolu news agency reported late on Wednesday that Turkey's military had begun deploying troops at the Syrian border.
Turkish television reported Thursday that some of the vehicles were trucks carrying antiaircraft guns, reportedly to be dispersed along the border.
According to the Anadolu, a convoy of some 30 military vehicles, including armored vehicles, was sent from the eastern Turkish base of Iskenderun to Hatay province near the Syrian border. The convoy then dispersed to bases along the border, accompanied by police and gendarmerie teams for security.