ANKARA: The Turkish Defense Ministry has announced that Ankara will send a commando battalion to Kosovo in response to a NATO alliance request for forces to help suppress violent unrest, Western media reported on Saturday.
Ankara to send Troops to Kosovo
In a statement via Twitter, the Turkish Defense Ministry said that a Turkish battalion will join NATO’s peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, known as KFOR. An official told the media on condition of anonymity that about 500 Turkish personnel would be deployed in Kosovo.
Earlier, NATO said that 700 troops would be sent to the region to bolster the KFOR. The KFOR mission currently consists of 3,800 personnel, including 350 from Turkey.
Violent clashes with Serbs on Monday left as many as 30 soldiers including 11 Italians and 19 Hungarians injured.
Turkish officials said, “Ankara urges restraint and talks to resolve the matters in Kosovo which endanger regional stability and security,”.
As per media reports the Turkish battalion will be deployed in Kosovo on Sunday and Monday.
