Turkey’s government will seek support from lawmakers today for a mandate to authorize the army to send troops into Iraq and Syria to deal with the growing threat of extremist jihadists while also opening its bases to foreign troops.
The proposal, submitted by the government to Parliament, would broaden existing military powers in a bid to enable the army to “defeat attacks directed toward our country from all terrorist groups in Iraq and Syria.”
The motion will be voted on today following a closed session due to the sensitivity of the issue.
“The Cabinet has decided ... to ask permission from Parliament ... to send the Turkish Armed Forces, if necessary, to foreign countries for cross-border operations and interventions and to position foreign militaries in Turkey for the same purposes,” the proposal outlined.