TURKEY EXTENDS MILITARY OPERATIONS IN IRAQ AND SYRIA

Ankara, 22 Dhulqa’dah 1436/6 September 2015 (MINA) – The Turkish parliament approved a motion on Thursday to extend the mandate authorising Turkey’s Armed Forces to take military action in Syria and Iraq, Anadolu has reported.

The mandate means that the Turkish army is authorised to conduct cross-border operations against “terrorist threats”.

It also allows foreign forces to use Turkish territory against the same threats, including ISIS and the PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organisation by the US, Turkey and EU. The current mandate expires on 1 October, at the end of the parliament’s summer break, which started on 14 July. Middle East Monitor (MEMO) quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

The ruling Freedom and Justice Party (AKP) called for the extraordinary parliamentary session to discuss the extension, which was also supported by the opposition National Movement and Popular Republican Parties. The Kurdish Democratic People’s Party (Kurdish) rejected the extension.

It is notable that Turkey has recently joined the US-led coalition against ISIS. Previously, Turkey, which is a member of NATO, had only granted permission for NATO coalition aircraft to use its bases for attacks against ISIS targets.

Turkey was hesitant about taking part in the coalition, but joined after a suicide attack that killed more than 33 people in the south of the country.

At the end of July, Tukey announced a “war on terror” against the PKK in Turkey and Iraq, as well as ISIS in Syria. (T/P002/R03)

Miraj Islamic News Agency (MINA)