Turkey approves military action against IS

Turkey's parliament has approved a motion that gives the government new powers to launch military incursions into Syria and Iraq and to allow foreign forces to use its territory for possible operations against the Islamic State group.

Parliament on Thursdady voted 298-98 in favour of the motion which sets the legal framework for any Turkish military involvement in Iraq or Syria, and for the potential use of Turkish bases by foreign troops.

Turkey has joined a US-led coalition against the Islamic State group but has yet to define what role it intends to play.