Newsletters
The Turkish Parliament has approved extensions for military operations in neighboring countries, voting Monday to keep troops in Iraq and Syria for three more years and maintain peacekeepers in Lebanon for an additional two years.
The Grand National Assembly of Türkiye passed two separate presidential motions authorizing the continued deployment of Turkish Armed Forces beyond current mandate expiration dates of Oct. 30 and Oct. 31.
The Iraq-Syria mandate, which permits cross-border operations against terrorist organizations, passed with support from the ruling Justice and Development Party, the Nationalist Movement Party, the Good Party and the New Path Party. The main opposition Republican People's Party and the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party voted against the measure.
The mandate cited continuing threats from the PKK and Islamic State militants, describing their presence as "a direct threat to regional peace, stability and our country's security." In Syria, the motion specifically mentioned terror groups PKK/PYD-YPG, stating they "refuse to take steps toward integration with the Syrian central administration due to their separatist and divisive agenda."
The document noted Syria's new government requires international support for counterterrorism capacity building, mine clearance affecting civilians and returnees, and identifying and destroying chemical weapons.
The Iraq-Syria authorization references U.N. Security Council resolutions 2170, 2178, 2249 and 2254, which confirm the territorial integrity of both countries and call on member states to take necessary measures against the Islamic State and similar terrorist organizations under international law.
Türkiye's deployment to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon received broader backing. The same coalition that supported the Iraq-Syria extension voted in favor, while the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party abstained. The Republican People's Party joined the majority in approving the Lebanon mission.
The motion stated Türkiye's contribution "has served to increase visibility among all segments of Lebanese society through comprehensive civil-military cooperation activities." UNIFIL's mandate runs until Dec. 31, 2026, with U.N. Security Council Resolution 2790 calling for the force's gradual phase-out by 2027.
The mandate allows the president to determine the scope, scale and timing of operations, including sending Turkish Armed Forces abroad for cross-border operations when necessary and permitting foreign armed forces in Türkiye for the same purposes. The authorization also covers measures to address mass migration risks.
Türkiye first received parliamentary authorization for operations in Iraq and Syria on Oct. 2, 2014, with the most recent extension approved on Oct. 17, 2023.
1 min read
3 min read
