Turkish Parliament Renews Authority To Conduct Strikes In Iraq, Syria

Turkey's parliament voted September 3 to extend for another year a mandate that allows the military to combat Islamist and Kurdish militants in neighboring Syria and Iraq.

The parliament convened for an extraordinary session to discuss the current mandate, which expires on October 2.

The mandate allows the use of the armed forces in neighboring Syria and Iraq, as well as for foreign forces to transit Turkish territory in operations against the Islamic State group.

The terms of the mandate also permit U.S. air forces to use Turkey's Incirlik air base to make lethal strikes against IS. Those strikes have now commenced after months of negotiations.

The motion was submitted to parliament last week by the ruling party, which cited "increased risks and threats against Turkey's national security along the southern borders."

Ankara in late July launched a dual anti-terror offensive against IS in Syria and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party in northern Iraq and southeast Turkey, following a series of deadly attacks.

Based on reporting by AFP and AP