NATO’s mission in Kosovo, KFOR, has announced that the Turkish Operational Reserve Force has arrived in Kosovo for a temporary deployment.

According to KFOR’s statement, the Turkish unit has assumed responsibilities from the Multinational Operational Reserve Force Battalion, as part of the rotation plan overseen by NATO’s Joint Force Command in Naples, Italy.

In the coming months, the Turkish battalion will carry out activities alongside other KFOR units, remaining ready to respond to any developments in the security situation. “The Turkish ORF battalion will conduct a series of activities together with other KFOR units, ready to respond to any developments in the security situation. Such reinforcements increase KFOR’s operational flexibility and readiness to respond to further security developments,” KFOR said.

KFOR, which launched its operations in Kosovo on June 12, 1999, under a UN Security Council mandate to ensure security and stability, currently consists of more than 4,500 personnel from 33 NATO and non-NATO contributing nations.

Turkey is scheduled to take command of KFOR for a one-year mandate, beginning on October 3.