Turkey’s presidency submits motion to extend cross-border ops in Iraq, Syria

Duvar English / Anadolu Agency

Turkey’s parliament is due to consider a motion extending authorization to launch cross-border operations in northern Iraq and Syria, as well as deploy peacekeeping forces to the countries of Lebanon, Mali and the Central African Republic.

The motion, submitted on Oct. 1 by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's government, would allow the Turkish military to carry out cross-border operations in northern Iraq and Syria for another year, from Oct. 30, 2020 until Oct. 30, 2021.

The motion says Turkey has continued security responsibilities in northern Syria, east of the Euphrates River and in the Idlib province, in line with its legitimate security interests.

It also says that Turkey attaches great importance to the protection of Iraq's territorial integrity, national unity and stability.

The motion also calls for extending the deployment of Turkish troops to the Central African Republic (CAR) and Mali as part of a UN-approved EU peacekeeping mission.

The extensions would be effective as of Oct. 31 for another year.

Under the motion, parliament would also extend the deployment of Turkish troops in Lebanon for another year as part of a UN interim force.

The term of Turkish soldiers in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, also known as UNIFIL, would be extended until Oct. 30, 2021.

The motion has been extended 13 times so far since it was first approved by parliament in September 2006.