Turkey’s Parliament has extended a mandate to send troops into Syria by a year if the need arises.
AP reports that the Turkish government proposed the extension in light of the alleged use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime on August 21. The proposal was passed by legislators despite objections from the opposition party that the move would embroil the nation into war.
The Turkish Parliament first authorized the use of military force after five Turkish civilians died due to shelling near the Syrian border nearly a year ago.
Relations between the two countries have soured since that incident. Just last month, Turkey shot down a Syrian helicopter that had strayed into its airspace.
