The Ministry of National Defense said, “If you ask whether there is a risk of an all-out third world war as in the first and second world wars, of course it is a possibility. As the Ministry of National Defense, we make our assessments regarding our defense and security, and we make all our plans that need to be updated in the light of new assessments. We can easily say that we are one of the most prepared countries.”
The Ministry of National Defense (MND) reported that 89 terrorists were neutralized in the last two weeks during operations in northern Iraq and Syria.
At a press briefing held at the ministry, Rear Admiral Zeki Aktürk, MSB Press and Public Relations Advisor, celebrated the 2233rd anniversary of the establishment of the Turkish Land Forces, which has achieved many victories by raising heroic commanders from Metehan to the eternal Commander-in-Chief Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
Stating that the Ministry of National Defense, with all its units and institutions, continues to work with all its strength for the defense and security of the country and to fulfill all the duties entrusted to it with determination and determination, Aktürk said that the fight against terrorism, which envisages eliminating threats starting from beyond the borders, continues uninterruptedly. Referring to the counter-terrorism operations, Aktürk said, “89 terrorists have been neutralized in the last two weeks, including in northern Iraq and Syria, thanks to successfully conducted operations.
Thus, the number of terrorists neutralized since January 1, 2024 has reached 1270.”
Reminding that as a result of the operations, 5 more PKK terrorists fleeing from their shelters in northern Iraq surrendered to the border post in Habur, Aktürk wished mercy to Sergeant Petty Officer Mehmet Ali Horoz, who was martyred on June 21 in the Pençe-Kilit Operation region, and security guard Cumali Esendemir, who was martyred on June 23.
Rear Admiral Aktürk continued as follows:
“With Operation Claw-Kilit, we are improving the area dominance we have achieved so far with unconventional and unpredictable operations in accordance with the necessity of the field, and we continue our activities in a way that will leave no place untouched by our eyes and untouched by our feet in order to reset the terrorist organization’s action and movement capacity, and we are completely closing the security lock in northern Iraq.”
Border security
Noting that multidimensional security is ensured at the borders through intensive, effective and dynamic measures, Aktürk said that 486 people were apprehended in the last two weeks while trying to cross illegally, 16 of whom were members of terrorist organizations. Stating that 2 thousand 581 people were prevented from crossing the border, Aktürk said, “Since January 1, the number of people caught trying to cross our borders illegally has increased to 5 thousand 215. The number of people prevented from crossing the border has reached 62 thousand 217.”
Contribution to regional and global peace
Rear Admiral Aktürk stated that the Turkish Armed Forces, which successfully serve in many geographies, continue to contribute to world peace.
Reminding that Yaşar Güler, the Minister of National Defence, attended the “Ukraine Defence Contact Group Meeting” and the “NATO Defence Ministers Meeting” in Brussels on June 13-14, as well as the “Letter of Goodwill Signing Ceremony” organized for Ukraine with the defence ministers of allied countries, Aktürk said:
“In these meetings, our Minister expressed our strong support for Ukraine, especially its territorial integrity, the importance we attach to the principle of regional ownership as the ally with the longest coast in the Black Sea and the importance we attach to the Montreux Convention, and in this context, the need to work in harmony with the ‘Black Sea Mine Countermeasures Task Group Initiative’, which we have established together with Bulgaria and Romania.
In addition, our contributions to NATO’s command and force structure, operations and missions, land-sea-air and space efforts, meeting the 2 percent target for defense expenditures, fighting against terrorism, including the PKK/YPG and its extensions on NATO’s southern border, never allowing the establishment of a ‘terror corridor’ in northern Syria and Iraq, and continuing to fulfill our responsibilities in NATO, we will continue to make significant and important contributions to NATO and the security of the Euro-Atlantic region.”
Aktürk said that within the framework of the meetings, Minister Güler held bilateral meetings with the Defense Ministers of Lithuania, Luxembourg and Ukraine, and met with many of his counterparts and senior NATO officials.
Aktürk congratulated Mark Rutte, who was elected NATO Secretary General with the joint decision of the allies, and thanked Jens Stoltenberg, who served as Secretary General for 10 years.
Establishing lasting peace in GazaRear Admiral Aktürk pointed out that Israel, which continues its attacks and massacres, continues its dastardly attacks on refugee camps and schools where displaced Palestinians take refuge.Rear Admiral Aktürk pointed out that Israel, which continues its attacks and massacres, continues its dastardly attacks on refugee camps and schools where displaced Palestinians take refuge.
