|
|
| By: Associated Press |
| Published: October 5, 2006 |
| |
A Turkish television station reported Thursday that some 260 Turkish soldiers will join the international peacekeeping force in Lebanon next week. The Turkish troops would be the first Muslim forces to deploy in Lebanon as part of the expanded U.N. operation.
Turkey's Foreign Ministry would not immediately confirm the report, saying evaluations were still under way for the deployment. Turkish military officials were not immediately available.
Private NTV television reported that a Turkish engineer company of around 260 soldiers was expected to fly to Lebanon from Ankara on Tuesday. Turkey was not expected to offer more land forces, but is also contributing some navy ships.
NTV said a Turkish frigate would depart on Friday to join international naval forces.
The Turkish contingent would be deployed in an area some 9 miles away from the port of Tyre and will help reconstruct damaged bridges or roads, NTV said. The area is about 12 miles north of the Lebanese-Israeli border.
Another Muslim country, Indonesia, was also expected to deploy troops in Lebanon later. The previous UNIFIL force in southern Lebanon had a contingent of Iranians in 1978-79, but these were withdrawn after the Islamic revolution of 1979 in Iran.
Last month, Turkey's parliament approved sending soldiers to help monitor the shaky cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas based in southern Lebanon, despite widespread public opposition.
Turks, most of whom are Muslims, are wary of being drawn into fighting with fellow Muslims to protect Israel, whose 34-day bombardment of Lebanon was extraordinarily unpopular here as in much of the Islamic world.
Turkey's prime minister has assured the public that Turkish soldiers will be withdrawn immediately if asked to disarm Hezbollah fighters. |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Click on the blue headline to read a Talkback comment and respond to it. Click on the  icon to send a private email to the talkback writer. The icon appears only if the writer has decided to be contacted. If no popup window appears, please make sure your popup blocker allows israelinsider.com.
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
