ANKARA, Oct 9 (NNN-ANADOLU) – Turkish parliament extended a motion for the government’s authority to launch cross-border military operations in Iraq and Syria for one more year.
The motion had previously allowed the Turkish Armed Forces to carry out cross-border operations from Oct 30, 2018, until Oct 30, 2019. All political parties, except pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic Party (HDP), at parliament supported the motion.
The motion stated that Turkey attaches great importance to the protection of Iraq’s territorial integrity, national unity, and stability. “However, the existence of PKK and Daesh in Iraq, poses a direct threat to regional peace, stability and the security of our country,” it added. It also said that Turkey has continued security activities in the east of the Euphrates in line with its legitimate security interests.
The motion came, ahead of Turkey’s planned military operation in the east of the Euphrates.
Turkey’s ultimate target in northern Syria was to end the existence of all terrorist groups, and to facilitate the return of Syrians to their own country, by providing a “peace corridor” within the territorial integrity of Syria, the chair of parliament’s National Defence Committee, Ismet Yilmaz, said.– NNN-ANADOLU