International Tasks Of Turkish Armed Forces International Tasks Of Turkish Armed Forces
Published: 9/11/2006
Turkish SAT commandos
ANKARA - The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) will contribute troops to the expanded United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
TSK has been serving peace in the world since 1950 by participating actively in missions under pioneership of international organizations.
Turkey took its first step for military integration with international society by supporting the United Nations during the Korean War between 1950 and 1953 with 15 thousand troops.
Following the Korean War, Turkey became an ally of NATO, and the Turkish soldiers participated in international forces.
When mass threats were replaced with uncertain threats following the Cold War era, Turkey joined the international peace forces formed against crises in Somalia, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo.
Turkey participated in the "Operation Restore Hope" launched by the United Nations between January 2nd, 1993, and February 24th, 1994, in order to put an end to hatred among rival groups in Somalia and to create a safe atmosphere to distribute humanitarian aid, with 300 soldiers. Also, Turkey carried out command of the peace-keeping force in Somalia for a while.
Later, TSK joined the multinational force led by Italy in line with the resolution taken by the United Nations Security Council about aid to Albania. TSK carried out relief activities with a troop of 779 soldiers beginning from April of 1997. Turkish troops returned to Turkey on August 1st, 1997, after transfer of Turkish citizens from Albania.
-BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA- Turkey participated in the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) which was formed to support the delivery of humanitarian relief, to monitor no fly zones and safe areas following the civil war in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
TSK deployed a troop of 1,400 soldiers in the region between August 4th, 1993 and December 31st, 1995. The peace force was reinforced after the Dayton Peace Accord was put into practice. Turkish troops joined the NATO-led Implementation Force (IFOR) on December 20th, 1995. IFOR was replaced with Stabilization Force (SFOR) on December 20th, 1996. 356 Turkish soldiers have still been contributing to peace in Zenica since December 2nd, 2004.
Meanwhile, Turkish Naval Forces joined the Operation Sharp Guard launched in the Adriatic between July 13th, 1992 and October 2nd, 1996, in parallel with the UNPROFOR and IFOR, with two frigates, fuel-oil vessels and mine-detecting vessels.
-KOSOVO- NATO started an air strike on March 24th, 1999, after crisis in Kosovo turned into an armed clash.
TSK supported NATO's strike by sending ten F-16 war planes to the region. Within the framework of the operation, Turkey kept ready three KC-135 tanker planes at the Incirlik Base and eight F-16 war planes in Bandirma. Also, Turkey charged one of its frigates and a mine-detecting vessel in the Adriatic.
Turkey also joined the 42-thousand-people-force formed to implement the peace accord signed between NATO and Federal Republic of NATO in order to find a solution to Kosovo crisis. In addition to supporting peace operations, TSK also undertook various tasks by supporting the troops in charge and to ensure their safety. TSK, which sent a troop to provide the safety of supply routes of the troops charged in Kosovo, deployed a military police team in Albania to ensure the internal safety of communications headquarters and a infantry team in Macedonia to protect the security in the KFOR headquarters.
Turkey also took part in the AFOR which was charged in Albania following the refugee flows to Macedonia and Albania, with a battlefield service company between May 18th and September 7th, 1999.
-MACEDONIA- TSK took part in the operation ''Essential Harvest Operation'' in Macedonia with troops in August 2001. The troops deployed in Petrovac region fulfilled their mission on October 6th, 2001. TSK also sent four headquarters personnel to the operation ''Amber Fox'' which started on September 27th, 2001 to provide support to the international observers in Macedonia.
-AFGHANISTAN- Turkey took part in the operation ''Enduring Freedom'' which was started in Afghanistan following the terrorist attacks in the United States, and proved the importance it attributed to world peace.
TSK joined the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan to install the peace with a troop of 276 members. TSK carried out command of the Second ISAF between June 2002 and February 2003. Number of Turkish troops was increased to 900 in Afghanistan as of August 6th, 2006.
TSK also fulfilled many military observation tasks within the scope of United Nations. Turkey which carried out this task on behalf of United Nations in six critical regions from Bosnia-Herzegovina to East Timor. Turkey undertook its first observation mission following the end of Iran-Iraq war between August 1988 and May 1991 with a team of ten persons.
Turkey sent search-and-rescue teams and humanitarian aid to Pakistan following the devastating earthquake on October 8th, 2005.
-GEORGIA-ABKHAZIA- TSK which charged nearly 100 personnel within the scope of UNOMIF to control the implementation of the cease-fire declared between Georgia and Abkhazia, as of October 15th, 1994, keeps five Turkish observers in the region who informs the United Nations Secretariat General about any violations.
TSK which took part in the OSCE observation mission formed on Georgian border to control the refugee flow that started after the operation of Russia to Chechnya, with one observer on February 20th, 2000, increased the number of military observer to two as of April 7th, 2002.
-HEBRON- Turkey which joined the temporary international existence formed on February 1st, 1997 to watch the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from Hebron city in West Bank and its transfer to the Palestinian administration, has still 3 personnel in the region.
-EAST TIMOR- Turkey which joined the military observation group in East Timor on February 1ST, 2000, charged eight officers in the region. TSK's mission ended after East Timor acquired its independence in May 2002.
Source : TurkishPress
Regards,
International Tasks Of Turkish Armed Forces, Special Turkish NATO Forces
09/13/06 01:31 AM
