Turkish parliament authorizes military action in Syria, Iraq

Washington Post, October 2 – Turkey’s parliament on Thursday overwhelmingly endorsed a measure authorizing Turkish and foreign troops to take military action in Iraq and Syria, potentially setting the stage for a deeper level of Turkish involvement in the expanding international war against the radical Islamic State group.
It was not immediately clear, however, how far Turkey is prepared to go to support the military effort against the Islamic State, a heavily armed also known as ISIS or ISIL.
Turkish officials said they expect no immediate change to Turkey’s existing policy of facilitating humanitarian efforts to aid needy Syrians inside and outside Syria and supporting moderate Syrian rebels battling the Damascus government.
“I don’t think there will be any imminent action,” said a Turkish official who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject.
The authorization, passed by 298 votes to 98, came amid mounting pressure on a reluctant Turkey to assume a more active role in a U.S.-led international coalition formed to confront the Islamic State militants.
A Turkish analyst familiar with the thinking of Turkish officials said, however, that while Turkey recognizes that the Islamic State is a growing threat to its own security, it is in no mood to rush to support a war that does not include as its goal the removal of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.