Ministry of National Defence statement regarding the unfortunate events and our operations in the north of Iraq.
The importance of Claw Operations and the details of the conflict with terrorists were explained as follows:
"Our Turkish Armed Forces continue their uninterrupted and determined fight against all kinds of threats and dangers, especially PKK/KCK/PYD-YPG, DAESH and FETO terrorist organizations. Places called "inaccessible/inaccessible" are now under control."
Since 2019, Claw Lock operations are not a limited-term operation that takes the breath away of the terrorist organization and will prevent its revival, but a proactive security strategy based on eliminating terrorism at its source, even under difficult weather, difficult terrain and difficult conditions, for the survival of our nation. It is an operation carried out with the aim of preventing entry.
In the past, we were fighting in the İkiyaka Mountains, Gabar and Derecik. Now, since we are fighting in the north of Iraq, oil can be extracted easily in Gabar, festivals can be held in the İkiyaka Mountains, and agricultural breakthrough can be made in Derecik.
The PKK terrorist organization first infiltrated the Sur Tepe region in the Hakurk region in northeastern Iraq on Friday, December 22, and 6 of our heroic comrades were martyred during the first conflict. The next day - Saturday, December 23 - there was an attempt to infiltrate our personnel in the Metina region, and 6 soldiers were martyred in the conflict that broke out there. 13 of our personnel were injured in both conflicts.
The regions with infiltration attempts are 100 km away from each other as the crow flies. away. The land in question is a high altitude, steep mountainous land with steep slopes and cliffs, and is a place with thousands of caves. Control in the region must be maintained in all weather conditions.
The injured commander changed the course, all the terrorists were killed
The infiltration attempt was not made by groups of 50-100 people, as claimed, but by small groups hiding in caves, where the weather was heavy, visibility was reduced to 5-10 meters due to dense fog and snowfall (blizzard), and the use of UAVs/SIHAs and thermal systems was impossible. was carried out in this case. Thanks to the heroic defense of our forward-line units and the battalion commander at the head of the commando unit that reinforced the conflict, despite being injured, the terrorists' main goal was prevented. "All terrorists who attempted to infiltrate were neutralized."
"TSK carries out operations that no other army in the world even dares to do."
The response to the allegations that the fortification was inadequate was as follows:
"Commando units are deployed to places where there may be infiltration or harassment of our Base Areas in the region and where they are needed for security purposes, but they are not deployed to places where they are not needed. Terrain conditions make such an operation mandatory, and our personnel receive training for this. Difficult conditions and determination are inherent in the fight against terrorism. The Turkish Armed Forces carries out operations that no other army in the world even dares to do. The unit that will go on the operation takes the equipment required for the task, taking into account the weather, terrain and other conditions. In addition, the personnel are not constantly in the same places, they are changed without being bound by time, taking into account the region to be taken under control. ."
"Claiming that our martyrs are hiding is speaking through the mouth of a terrorist organization."
The response to the allegations that the news of the martyrs was given late and that the martyrs were hidden was as follows:
"According to the Martyr and Veteran Procedure Circular, the procedures for martyrs/injured persons are first given to their families by taking the necessary precautions, and then shared with the public. They are not shared with the public without informing the family and clarifying the status of those whose treatment continues.
Revealing the news of the martyr to the public before the statement to be made by the Ministry of National Defense may not only be false news, but also accelerates the perception that the terrorist organization wants to create in society and creates pessimism in the public. Apart from the statements made by the Ministry of National Defense, the shares made on social media, especially by individual users, should not be relied upon. Although the news of martyrs being given by other people may create a perception in the public as "hiding the news of martyrs", in an age when communication is so fast and easy, it is not possible to hide it and such an effort has never been made. Because the truth will come out sooner or later.
As claimed on some social media accounts, we have no martyred soldiers other than those announced in the Claw-Lock Operation region. The treatment of our injured personnel continues. The Turkish Armed Forces has never buried any of our martyrs without disclosing their photographs and names and without honoring them in the eyes of our people. "Claiming that our martyrs are hiding is speaking through the mouth of the terrorist organization."
"All personnel working in the fight against terrorism are professionals"
The following information was given to the personnel working in the region:
"All personnel working in the fight against terrorism are professionals and are assigned to the region they are responsible for after receiving all the necessary training. The personnel in question are assigned after completing their orientation together with experienced personnel, and are not assigned unless they have tactical and technical knowledge appropriate to their level.
In addition, inspections are carried out from time to time by the regular unit commands and the Army/Force Commands, and the training, shooting, sports, etc. of the personnel and the unit are carried out. The proficiency level in the subjects is determined and reported. Our Turkish Armed Forces, which are currently serving with heroism and sacrifice in difficult climate and terrain conditions in our base areas and borders, continue their fight against terrorism; "It will continue with increasing pressure and intense tempo, with determination and determination, until all terrorist dens are destroyed and not a single terrorist remains."
"The incident is being investigated from every aspect"
When asked whether there was "neglect" in the last attack, the following answer was given:
"Following the incidents that occurred in the Turkish Armed Forces, an administrative investigation is immediately established and action is taken against those responsible/faulty. In this case, an administrative investigation and review has been initiated and the incident is being examined in every aspect.
In the Turkish Armed Forces, following the events that occurred, the "Lessons Learned Bulletin" is published by our Training and Doctrine Command in order to develop the lessons to be learned and the skills that the personnel must acquire in order to prevent them from happening again, and it is actively used in training.
"Practical training for these and similar events is provided in Primary Schools and Training Centers, and especially in Counter-Terrorism Operation courses, and tactical and technical development appropriate to the level of the personnel is provided."
"Does mobile phone use cause vulnerability?" The question was answered with the following statements:
The security problem that smart mobile phones create even in daily life is known to everyone. As the Ministry of National Defense, a study is being carried out on the issue in terms of personnel and unit security. Serious measures will be taken regarding this issue.
"Some comments are used by the terrorist organization for propaganda purposes"
The question of whether there were strategic errors in the operations was answered as follows:
"While the Turkish Armed Forces previously held such lands only when weather conditions permitted, they continue to keep them under control in winter with a changing and developing concept. As a matter of fact, these control points were not kept within the scope of "Winter organization" before, but when they started to be kept again in the spring months, they continue to keep them under control in winter. IEDs were encountered and cleaning of the area was becoming more difficult.
In this context, sentences starting with "In my time / during my term of office", which are frequently shown on media such as television / social media, have no value. Because everything changes: conditions, technology, tactics, people, concept... Even terrorists change. The only constant thing is change itself.
"We respect every criticism, but comments made with incomplete/old information and experiences confuse the public and some comments are even used for propaganda purposes by the terrorist organization."
