Parliament extends mandate of Turkish troops in Lebanon

Parliament approved on Saturday a proposal by the Prime Ministry to extend the mandate, for the seventh time, of Turkish troops operating under the banner of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for one year as of Sept. 5, 2013. The United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1701 on Aug. 11, 2006, after a conflict broke out between Lebanon and Israel on July 12, 2006 and put it into action following a cease-fire between the parties signed on Aug. 14, 2006. The Turkish Parliament first agreed to send troops to the war-torn country in 2006, despite widespread opposition and protests, to help monitor a shaky cease-fire between Israel and Shiite Hezbollah guerrillas based in southern Lebanon and has extended its mandate for a year every summer since then. Parliament previously authorized the government on May 29, 2007, July 8, 2008, June 23, 2009, June 24, 2010, July 5, 2011 and July 1, 2012, to extend the mandate of Turkish troops operating under UNIFIL. Turkey has dispatched forces, mainly comprising naval force units, to patrol the eastern Mediterranean. Turkey also helps train the Lebanese army and supports its ally in naval and air transportation.