Turkey Extends Deadline for Sending Troops to Iraq and Syria by 2 Years

Turkey has officially extended the deadline for deploying troops to Iraq and Syria by an additional two years. According to Ermenihaber, this information has been published in the official gazette of Turkey (Resmi gazete).

It is noteworthy that the Turkish parliament approved a memorandum signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan the day before, which states that the deadline for sending troops to Iraq and Syria is extended for another two years.

According to the memorandum, the risks and threats against national security along Turkey's southern land borders continue to escalate. It emphasizes that Turkey places great importance on the territorial integrity, national unity, and maintenance of stability in neighboring Iraq.

The memorandum indicates that the ongoing presence of elements associated with the terrorist group “Kurdistan Workers' Party” (PKK) and the “Islamic State” (IS) in Iraq poses a direct threat to regional peace, stability, and Turkey's security.

Furthermore, in areas of Syria bordering Turkey, the Syrian wing of the PKK, known as the “Democratic Union Party” (PYD), along with the “People's Protection Units” (YPG) and particularly IS, continue to exist and carry out operations against Turkey's national security and its population.

Additionally, it is emphasized that the aforementioned memorandum is vital for Turkey's national security.