Turkey Extends Troops' Deployment In Iraq And Syria.
Renewal of bill comes two days before scheduled independence referendum in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region.
MPs in Turkey vote to approve the renewal of a bill allowing the military to intervene in Iraq and Syria [Adem Altan/AFP/Getty Images] [Getty Images]
Turkey's parliament has approved the extension of a mandate that allows the deployment of troops in Iraq and Syria if faced with national security threats.
The move on Saturday came two day before an independence referendum in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region - a vote denounced by Ankara as a "mistake" and a threat to its security and regional stability.
The motion was backed by members of parliament (MPs) from the ruling Justice and Development Party, as well as the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and Nationalist Movement Party. MPs from the People's Democratic Party (HDP) voted against it.
The bill read in parliament listed combating Kurdish fighters in Syria and Iraq and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant armed group as national security requirements for Turkey.
It also emphasised the importance of Iraq and Syria's territorial integrity and said "separatism based on ethnicity" poses a threat to both Turkey and regional stability.
Shortly before his address, the Pentagon announced that the show of force underscored "the seriousness" with which the US took North Korea's "reckless" behaviour, calling the country's weapons programme a "grave threat".
"This mission is a demonstration of US resolve and a clear message that the president has many military options to defeat any threat," it said in a statement.
"We are prepared to use the full range of military capabilities to defend the US homeland and our allies."
US Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers from Guam, escorted by Air Force F-15C Eagle fighters from Okinawa, Japan, flew in international airspace, the Pentagon added.
The flight follows a week of heated rhetoric between the leaders of both countries - after Mr Trump's comments, Mr Kim called him "mentally deranged" and "a dotard".
North Korea has refused to stop its missile and nuclear tests, despite successive rounds of UN sanctions. Its leaders say nuclear capabilities are its only deterrent against an outside world seeking to destroy it.
After the North's latest and most powerful nuclear test earlier this month, the UN Security Council approved new sanctions on the country.
But speaking at the UN, Mr Ri repeated that the restrictions would not make the country stop its nuclear development.
Renewal of bill comes two days before scheduled independence referendum in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region.
MPs in Turkey vote to approve the renewal of a bill allowing the military to intervene in Iraq and Syria [Adem Altan/AFP/Getty Images] [Getty Images]
Turkey's parliament has approved the extension of a mandate that allows the deployment of troops in Iraq and Syria if faced with national security threats.
The move on Saturday came two day before an independence referendum in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region - a vote denounced by Ankara as a "mistake" and a threat to its security and regional stability.
The motion was backed by members of parliament (MPs) from the ruling Justice and Development Party, as well as the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and Nationalist Movement Party. MPs from the People's Democratic Party (HDP) voted against it.
The bill read in parliament listed combating Kurdish fighters in Syria and Iraq and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant armed group as national security requirements for Turkey.
It also emphasised the importance of Iraq and Syria's territorial integrity and said "separatism based on ethnicity" poses a threat to both Turkey and regional stability.
Shortly before his address, the Pentagon announced that the show of force underscored "the seriousness" with which the US took North Korea's "reckless" behaviour, calling the country's weapons programme a "grave threat".
"This mission is a demonstration of US resolve and a clear message that the president has many military options to defeat any threat," it said in a statement.
"We are prepared to use the full range of military capabilities to defend the US homeland and our allies."
US Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers from Guam, escorted by Air Force F-15C Eagle fighters from Okinawa, Japan, flew in international airspace, the Pentagon added.
The flight follows a week of heated rhetoric between the leaders of both countries - after Mr Trump's comments, Mr Kim called him "mentally deranged" and "a dotard".
North Korea has refused to stop its missile and nuclear tests, despite successive rounds of UN sanctions. Its leaders say nuclear capabilities are its only deterrent against an outside world seeking to destroy it.
After the North's latest and most powerful nuclear test earlier this month, the UN Security Council approved new sanctions on the country.
But speaking at the UN, Mr Ri repeated that the restrictions would not make the country stop its nuclear development.
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