Media: Türkiye extends peacekeeping mandate in Lebanon

Türkiye’s peacekeeping forces will continue to assist in strengthening the capabilities of the Lebanese Armed Forces under an extended deployment mandate in Lebanon, the Turkish Ministry of Defence announced.

The Turkish parliament approved a bill renewing the military’s deployment authorizations in Syria and Iraq for an additional three years, and extending its mandate under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for a further two years, Reuters reports.

“Efforts will continue to improve security conditions in the region, ensure stability, and assist in the capacity building of the Lebanese armed forces, with the aim of establishing and maintaining peace in Lebanon,” the ministry said in an official statement.

A NATO member, Türkiye has played a mediating role in regional diplomacy, including in the negotiations that led to the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal in Gaza. Ankara has sharply condemned Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza and neighboring countries, including Lebanon, describing Israeli actions as “genocidal” and “expansionist,” and asserting that such policies represent the greatest threat to regional peace.

Separately, in its weekly briefing, the Defence Ministry said that the renewal of the mandates in Iraq and Syria was aimed at safeguarding Türkiye’s national security and countering efforts that threaten the territorial integrity of both neighboring states.

Ankara has expressed frustration with what it perceives as delays by the US-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in implementing a landmark integration agreement reached with the Syrian government in March. Türkiye regards the SDF as a terrorist organization linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which has been engaged in a disarmament process that Ankara insists must also apply to the SDF.

The Turkish government has repeatedly warned that it may take military action against the SDF if its concerns are not addressed, urging Damascus to take concrete steps on the matter.

By Vafa Guliyeva