Turkey extends military mandate in Syria, Iraq

2 October 2016 14:00 (UTC+04:00)

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Turkey's parliament passed a motion on Saturday to extend a mandate that allows military action against terror organizations in neighboring Syria and Iraq for one more year.

The parliament convened on Saturday, on the first day of a new parliamentary session to discuss the current mandate which expires on October 2.

Under the new motion, the Turkish government is authorized military action in Syria and Iraq to fight any group threatening the country. The measure will be in effect until September 30, 2017.

Speaking earlier, Defense Minister Fikri Isik said the mandate would enable Turkey to take all kinds of necessary measures against terrorist threats and security risks within the framework of international law.

"The extension of the mandate will support the government's ongoing actions to end terror threats permanently and will be a dissuasive factor against terrorist groups Daesh and PKK," Isik said.

The current mandate allows military incursions into Syria and Iraq against a threat to Turkey and allows foreign forces to use Turkish territory for possible operations against the same threats including Daesh, and the PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organization by the U.S., Turkey and the EU.