Turkey wants to join new Lebanon security initiative after UN mission ends

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey is interested in participating in a new security initiative for Lebanon when the 7,500-member UN peacekeeping mission in the south of the country expires at the end of the year. He made the remarks during a joint press statement with his Lebanese counterpart Joseph Aoun on Thursday in Ankara. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.

Last year, the UN Security Council voted unanimously to terminate the peacekeeping mission known as UNIFIL, bowing to demands from the United States and its close ally, Israel. The UN is now considering alternatives.