As tensions between Hezbollah and Israel heighten, Turkey has acted on Lebanon. On October 8, the Turkish Foreign Ministry announced that two warships, TCG Bayraktar and TCG Sancaktar, have been dispatched to Lebanon-the conflict zone.
Humanitarian Mission for Turkish Citizens
The two navy ships, with crucial humanitarian aid onboard were send to Beirut, Lebanon's capital. Its principal mission remains the evacuation of up to 2,000 Turkish citizens, who have asked for government assistance and are seeking to be evacuated from Lebanon. According to the officials, the details of the evacuation process was announced to the citizens contacting the Consulate Call Center. About 2,500 Turkish nationals applied for the evacuation, and nearly 2,000 will be eligible for the operation. This is after the government evacuated Turkish nationals and other foreign citizens, on October 4 aboard three commercial ferries.
Lightly armed Turkish warships without military escort, which adds on to the claim of the Turkish government that this is an humanitarian operation and not a military intervention. Some media speculations over Turkey's role in the Iran- Israel war have been ended by clarification from the Foreign Ministry stating that this a operation for evacuation purposes only.
However, since an Israeli naval blockade stretches southward to south of the Awali River in Lebanon, any further southbound operations would need Israeli approval.
Inputs by Agencies
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