Parliament extends Turkish troop deployment in Lebanon's UN force
A member of the Turkish engineering contingent in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) walks past a wall depicting flags (AFP Photo)


The parliament approved Monday the motion to extend the deployment of Turkish troops in Lebanon for another year as part of the United Nations' interim force.

The term of Turkish soldiers in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, also known as UNIFIL, was extended from Sept. 5, 2017, to Oct. 31, 2018.

The motion floated by the Prime Ministry has been extended 10 times so far since it was first approved by the parliament in September 2006.

The UNIFIL was established in 1978 when Israel withdrew from Lebanon. The peacekeeping force is intended to provide security and help the Lebanese government in rebuilding its authority.

Around 10,600 troops from 40 countries are part of the UNIFIL mission.