After a month-long recess, Parliament will convene next week to vote on the government motion to extend the mandate allowing the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) to cross the border for operations and military incursions into Syria and Iraq against any threat to Turkey. If passed, the motion will also allow foreign forces usage to Turkish airbases and Turkish territory against the same threats, including Daesh, the PKK and its Syrian affiliate, the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and its People's Protection Units (YPG) militia. Both Daesh and the PKK are listed as terrorist organizations by the U.S., Turkey and the EU.
The current mandate will expire on Oct. 2, therefore Parliament is expected to convene and vote on Sept. 30 or Oct. 2 for the new government motion, which offers a one-year extension to the current mandate. Last year the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), Republican People's Party (CHP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) all voted for the mandate while the People's Democratic Party (HDP) did not. For this year's mandate all political parties are expected to vote as they did last year.
Turkey is waging a dual offensive against Daesh and the PKK in Iraq and Syria since last year. On Aug. 24 Turkey began to send its military forces into Syria for its Euphrates Shield operation to clear Turkey's borders of all terrorist elements, including Daesh and the YPG.
