Turkey extends its role in Somali anti-piracy mission

ANKARA - Hürriyet Daily News

The Turkish Navy has been part of the force in the Gulf of Aden since 2009. AA photo

Parliament voted yesterday to extend by a year the Turkish Navy’s involvement in an international anti-piracy mission off the coast of Somalia.

The earlier authorization was to expire Feb. 10. The Turkish Navy has been part of the force in the Gulf of Aden since February 2009, tasked with escorting commercial ships and using force if necessary to seize vessels operated by pirates. Turkish frigates have, on several occasions, intercepted skiffs and captured pirates.

It was the 34th time Parliament authorized the government to send armed forces abroad since 1950.