ANKARA, October 2 (RIA Novosti) - The Turkish army will not take any immediate actions upon receiving a mandate on the use of military force on the territories of Syria and Iraq, where the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group is currently active, Turkish Minister of Defense Ismet Yilmaz said Thursday, as quoted by the local NTV TV Channel.
“Do not expect immediate actions after the mandate is adopted,” Ismet Yilmaz said.
At the moment, Turkish Parliament is holding a session debating the request of the Turkish government to adopt a mandate allowing for the use of military force in Iraq and Syria.
The government in Ankara is seeking to get a year-long mandate for the use of armed forces in cross-border military operations, as well as to allow foreign troops to be stationed in Turkey.
The IS, also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS), or the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), has been fighting the Syrian government since 2012. In June, 2014, the jihadist group spread its attacks to northern and western Iraq.
In August, the United States started launching airstrikes against IS positions in Iraq. In September, the attacks were extended to Syria, with France and Pentagon's Arab allies taking part – without any formal permission from the Syrian government.
The United States has been trying to get Turkey involved in its anti-jihadist military campaign ever since the release of IS-held Turkish hostages in September.
