Post by Janjoon-Lebanese on Oct 23, 2006 12:54:23 GMT -5
First Turkish troops set sail to join UNIFIL
20-10-06
BY: DAILY STAR
The first batch of 261 Turkish military engineers set sail for Lebanon Thursday to join the enlarged UN peacekeeping operation policing a cease-fire between Israel and Hizbullah, the general staff said. NATO-member Turkey is the first Muslim country to contribute troops to the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia and Qatar also have pledged soldiers.
A total of 95 personnel, who boarded a navy ship from the southern port city of Mersin, are set to dock in Beirut on Friday, military officials said. The remaining members of the team will fly to Beirut on Friday, Anatolia news agency reported.
The Turkish contingent, which includes 237 soldiers and 24 civilians, will be stationed at a small village, lying 7 kilometers to the southeast of the port city of Tyre in southern Lebanon.
They are expected to work mostly on the reconstruction of roads and bridges.
Turkey is not expected to contribute any more ground troops for the UN force.
A Turkish frigate is already serving in the German-led naval task force patrolling the Lebanese coast to prevent arms from allegedly being smuggled to Hizbullah, and the navy has said that it will also send two corvettes - small, fast escort ships to the war-torn country.
The Turkish government has said it will contribute a total of 681 troops to UNIFIL, including those on board the ships.
The Turkish Parliament authorized the deployment of troops to Lebanon last month despite objections and large street protests.
Lebanon's Armenian community held massive demonstrations earlier this month protesting Turkey's involvement, citing the massacre in 1915 in which millions of Armenians were slaughtered by Ottoman Turks.
20-10-06
BY: DAILY STAR
The first batch of 261 Turkish military engineers set sail for Lebanon Thursday to join the enlarged UN peacekeeping operation policing a cease-fire between Israel and Hizbullah, the general staff said. NATO-member Turkey is the first Muslim country to contribute troops to the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia and Qatar also have pledged soldiers.
A total of 95 personnel, who boarded a navy ship from the southern port city of Mersin, are set to dock in Beirut on Friday, military officials said. The remaining members of the team will fly to Beirut on Friday, Anatolia news agency reported.
The Turkish contingent, which includes 237 soldiers and 24 civilians, will be stationed at a small village, lying 7 kilometers to the southeast of the port city of Tyre in southern Lebanon.
They are expected to work mostly on the reconstruction of roads and bridges.
Turkey is not expected to contribute any more ground troops for the UN force.
A Turkish frigate is already serving in the German-led naval task force patrolling the Lebanese coast to prevent arms from allegedly being smuggled to Hizbullah, and the navy has said that it will also send two corvettes - small, fast escort ships to the war-torn country.
The Turkish government has said it will contribute a total of 681 troops to UNIFIL, including those on board the ships.
The Turkish Parliament authorized the deployment of troops to Lebanon last month despite objections and large street protests.
Lebanon's Armenian community held massive demonstrations earlier this month protesting Turkey's involvement, citing the massacre in 1915 in which millions of Armenians were slaughtered by Ottoman Turks.
