During this spring and summer, the Turkish Armed Forces took numerous peaks along the Metina Mountain range, and also advanced south of Matin Mountain in the Zap and deployed to Tepe Bahar.
In other words, while there was a major operation, the organization was not able to carry out any infiltration.
There are several reasons why they are unable to carry out infiltrations. First of all, the effectiveness of the Turkish Armed Forces in terms of surveillance when the weather is good severely limits the PKK's area of movement.
Secondly, we can say that the Turkish Armed Forces are proceeding more carefully, especially compared to Claw-Lock 2022. The targeted areas were reached gradually. We are more experienced and calmer.
Thirdly, we can say that the new course of action that the Turkish Armed Forces started to implement this spring has been beneficial. Search and destroy operations from the front, road checkpoints against attacks from villages, reinforcements by the KDP in the area, etc.
Fourthly, the organization's field teams, especially in the Metina region, were neutralized by the Turkish Armed Forces. This so-called attack group was largely incapacitated.
And the fifth main factor is that we can say there were interventions regarding the shipments coming from Gara. Now lets examine this issue in detail. Because 3 out of the 4 infiltrations we experienced last winter were carried out by the teams coming from Gara.
Let's start with the events that took place in and around Matin Mountain. The Turkish Armed Forces established a base area in the Sergele Gorge, south of Matin Mountain, and established a new base area on the hill to the south, which the organization used to infiltrate the hill. In addition, a base area was established opposite the tunnel under Matin Mountain.
Another point is Tepe Bahar. The organization's only point in Zap was deployed. There is no problem with the tunnel, but since the base area on the hill is new and very exposed to the front, it is a very suitable target for kamikaze UAVs. In addition, a base area was established in the Deraluk Strait southeast of the hill.
The capturing of both the Deraluk Strait and the Sergele Strait, the two straits that the organization uses to infiltrate from Gara to our areas of operation was critical. In addition, the Balinda Strait is also held by both the Turkish Armed Forces and forces affiliated with the Iraqi Central Government.
PKK targets in the villages of Mije and Spindar, north of Gara, were destroyed from the air by F-16s. The positions used by the organization as bases, warehouses and surveillance spots in the area were destroyed.
There are signs that we are more careful about shipments from Gara to Zap. In the video shot by Rudaw from under Gara, there are the graves of four terrorists who were killed while hiding under a tree after descending from Gara Mountain in the evening last week - the PKK did not disclose these -
They use civilian areas for shipments between Gara and Zap and do business with civilians. If the TSK's capabilities and regulations are not sufficient for direct action operations, we think that MIT can greatly relieve the TSK in this region.
In the information we read in open sources, we saw that civilians indicated the roads that the PKK used and called not to use those roads. It is also seen that the villagers were condemning people among themselves about some of their relatives working with the PKK.
As for the base areas close to the flat land and villages, it is thought that the base areas are in sufficient condition. When the reinforcements are examined, it is seen that almost everything went to these base areas. There is little risk that the base areas will be infiltrated except for the base area just below Matin.
As for the Seri tunnel, it is thought that it is still the most fortified and crowded tunnel in Claw-Lock AO. They may still be able to attack in the winter. But as we mentioned above, with the straits being held, it seems unlikely that they will be able to send reinforcements to Seri.
There is no extra events in the Metina region. Everything continues as we left it. There are not many initiatives towards the tunnels there. It seems that the Turkish Armed Forces no longer want to take the risk of martyrs or injuries in initiatives towards the tunnels.
Lastly, it was a good year and we hope it continues like this.
For the best source on the ongoing operations:
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