ANKARA - "We will send 600-700 troops, including crew members of vessels, to Lebanon," said Namik Tan, spokesman for the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Friday.
Speaking at weekly press briefing, Tan said, "the TCG Gaziantep Frigate will leave for Lebanon later today to join the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Meanwhile, we are planning to send the other troops to Lebanon in the coming weeks."
When asked whether a certain number of Turkish troops had been decided, Tan said, "we will send 600-700 troops, including crew members of vessels, to Lebanon. The Turkish contingent will be deployed in an area near the port of Tyre. We will make a detailed statement soon."
Upon another question, Tan said that the United Nations would meet all costs of the Turkish troops.