Turkish parliament renews mandate for military operations in Syria, Iraq

Motion enables Turkish government to deploy troops in Iraq and Syria for another year
Wednesday, 03 October 2018 20:46

The Turkish parliament approved on Wednesday the extension of a mandate authorizing the deployment of Turkish troops in Iraq and Syria for one more year, according to the results of the vote.

The mandate, which allows the Turkish army to carry out cross-border operations, was first passed in 2014 to "counter threats" coming from its southern neighbours. The Turkish authorities have been extending the mandate yearly since then.

The vote comes as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has suggested Turkey could take steps to create "safe zones" across northern Syria, including in areas held by Kurdish militants who are allied with the United States.