Turkish forces eliminate 27 terrorists in counterterrorism ops

The Turkish Ministry of National Defense announced that 27 terrorists had been killed in operations conducted in northern Iraq and Syria over the past week.

The National Defense Ministry's Press and Public Relations Advisor Rear Admiral Zeki Akturk said during a press briefing that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) continue their resolute fight against terrorism.

Akturk mentioned that in operations carried out in northern Iraq and Syria, including against terrorist organizations such as PKK, Daesh, and FETO, 27 terrorists have been killed in the past week alone. He also noted that the number of terrorists eliminated since Jan. 1 has reached 280 in northern Iraq and 393 in northern Syria.

Akturk emphasized that efforts to maintain stability in Syria and facilitate the safe return of Syrians to a secure environment have involved responding to ongoing harassment and attack attempts aimed at disrupting the security and tranquility established in operation areas.

Prevention of illegal border crossings

Akturk reported that 109 individuals, including two members of terrorist organizations, were apprehended while attempting to illegally cross the borders in the past week. Additionally, 2,109 individuals were prevented from crossing the border.

He said, "As a result, the number of individuals apprehended while attempting to cross our borders illegally has risen to 2,112 since January 1, and the number of individuals prevented from crossing the border without authorization has reached 41,521. Furthermore, 114 kilograms of narcotics were seized in operations conducted over the past week."

Contributions to regional and global peace

Akturk emphasized that the Turkish Armed Forces continue to contribute significantly to regional and global peace and stability, particularly in regions such as Cyprus, Azerbaijan, Libya, Kosovo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Qatar, Somalia, and many others.

He continued, "Under the framework of guarantee and alliance agreements, we reaffirm our unwavering support for the legitimate interests of our Cypriot brothers in Cyprus, which is our national issue. We invite parties to turn towards a reasonable and logical solution based on historical and current realities, rather than expired, status quo-oriented, and provocative rhetoric."

Discussing the escalating violence and humanitarian crisis in Gaza due to Israel's relentless attacks, especially against children and aid organizations, Akturk highlighted the urgent need for international action to end these attacks.

Expressing concerns about the repercussions of conflicts on other regional countries, Akturk called upon the international community to act promptly to end these attacks that undermine global peace and stability.

Introduction of new weapon systems

Akturk pointed out that with the contribution of domestic and national defense industry products, the effectiveness and deterrence capability of the TSK is increasing day by day under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

He mentioned that the inspection and acceptance activities of various quantities of "Armored Anti-Tank Vehicles" and "35 mm Modern Towed Guns" have been completed by the Land Forces Command.

Highlighting Türkiye's active and respected membership in NATO since 1952, Akturk reiterated that Türkiye will continue to make significant and decisive contributions to NATO and maintain its role as a crucial platform for addressing security-related issues in the European-Atlantic region.

Providing information about the Turkish Armed Forces' training activities, Akturk mentioned that the TCG Kinaliada corvette will undertake a voyage to Japan from April 8 to Aug. 19, as part of the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Türkiye and Japan, with plans to visit 24 ports in 20 countries.

Akturk concluded by affirming the Turkish Armed Forces' determination to successfully fulfill all tasks, ranging from counterterrorism operations to ensuring border security, protecting the rights and interests of citizens in the Blue Homeland, and contributing to international peace and stability.

Questions addressed

During the press briefing, Ministry of National Defense sources also answered questions from journalists.

Regarding videos showing some soldiers voting collectively in elections, ministry sources stated: "Every Turkish citizen who has reached the age of 18 has the right to vote and participate in referendums. According to our Constitution and relevant legislation, enlisted soldiers and military students cannot vote. However, other personnel who professionally serve in the military are eligible to exercise their right to vote to fulfill their citizenship duties in accordance with the current legislation."

In response to questions about the U.S. House Armed Services Committee's visit to National Defense Minister Yasar Guler, sources said, "During the meeting, our military relations with the US and our cooperation in the defense industry were discussed, as were our ongoing counterterrorism activities in northern Syria and Iraq and regional developments, including the situation in Gaza and Ukraine."

Source: Newsroom