CRI听力:Turkish Parliament Approves Action against Islamic State

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The Turkish parliament has authorized cross-border military incursions into Iraq and Syria to battle Islamic State militants.

The motion also allows foreign soldiers to be stationed in Turkey.

It also lets foreign soldiers to use Turkey's military bases.

Turkish Defense Minister Ismet Yilmaz says the move comes amid the continued threat to the ethnic-Turkish enclave in northern Syria, as well as to the tomb of the founder of the former Ottoman Empire.

"The existence of Islamist militants in the region, 37 kilometers away from the Turkish-Syrian border, where the tomb of Suleyman Shah is located, is an obvious risk, an obvious threat against our national security. The tomb of Suleyman Shah is an inseparable part of our territory and it is the utmost duty of the state to protect it. Turkish Republic will not hesitate to take the necessary steps to fulfill this responsibility."

The Turkish government has been under increasing pressure to play a more robust role in the U.S.-led military campaign against the Islamic State after the insurgents advanced to within clear sight of Turkish military positions on the Syrian border.

However, Ankara has been reluctant to take action that may strengthen the role Kurdish fighters have been playing in the conflict.

Turkey has been involved in a 30-year conflict with Kurdish rebels in the southeastern regions of the country.