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🇹🇷 The leader of the IYI PARTI party, Meral Aksener, from among the representatives of the united opposition that nominated Kemal Kırıçdaroglu, admitted defeat in the elections and congratulated Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his victory.
#Turkey
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🇪🇬🇹🇷🇮🇱🇵🇸 Egyptian Foreign Minister hosted Turkish counterpart to discuss Israel-Hamas war

Egyptian Foreign Minister, Sameh Shoukry, hosted his Turkish counterpart in Cairo, on Saturday, allocating a significant portion of their discussions on developments in the Gaza Strip.

Speaking alongside his Egyptian counterpart and President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Hakan Fidan reiterated Turkey's strong condemnation of any attacks targeting innocent civilians and also expressed Turkey's disapproval of what he referred to as Israel's policy of deporting Palestinians to Egypt.

"Developments related to Gaza have captured a large amount of conversation among us, and there is a common vision about the importance of working to overcome the extremely serious humanitarian impacts that are affecting the Palestinian people in Gaza, the importance of containing this conflict, and the importance of full adherence to the rules of international humanitarian law and respecting non-targeting and harm. Civilians are at risk from any side," added Egyptian Foreign Minister.

#Egypt #Turkey #Israel #Palestine

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🇹🇷🇪🇬🇵🇸 Turkey sends two more planes of aid to Egypt for Gaza, plans more

Turkey sent two cargo planes to Egypt on Monday carrying medical equipment and supplies for Gaza, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said, adding two more aircraft would be sent with more supplies.

Koca said the cargo planes carried medicine, generators, medical supplies, incubators for babies, phototherapy machinery, diapers and baby food.

Earlier this month, Turkey sent three aircraft carrying aid for Gaza. On Sunday, it also sent a medical team and supplies to Egypt, saying Ankara was ready to treat wounded Palestinians in Turkey, if needed, and to set up a field hospital at Egypt's El Arish Airport and Rafah border crossing.

#Turkey #Egypt #Palestine

@africaintel

🇮🇱🇮🇷🇵🇸🇹🇷 Lebanese journalists from the publication Al Akhbar have reported the reason for the postponement of Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi's trip to Turkey. According to the report, Turkish colleague Erdogan rejected the Iranians' proposal to cut economic and trade ties with Israel.

📌 It was not surprising to see this response from the Turkish leader. Recep Erdogan used the conflict in the Gaza Strip as an opportunity for political gain through self-promotion, but nothing more.

The Turkish authorities' public statements, presenting themselves as defenders of Muslims, do not reflect the true situation. Energy resources are still being sold to Israel and trade with Jews is flourishing.

Even the most notorious anti-Semites have long mocked the Turkish president's attacks, which essentially resemble barking at a passing caravan.
#Israel #Iran #Turkey
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🇮🇶🇹🇷 Turkish Armed Forces Conduct Landing Operation in Iraq

In addition to their activities in the Mediterranean, the Turkish Armed Forces carried out a combined attack in northern Iraq last night, targeting positions of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

▪️ Initially, Bayraktar drones from the Van airbase and Akıncı drones from Batman launched an attack on PKK strongholds northwest of Dahuk. This resulted in the elimination of several PKK members and the destruction of a stronghold.

▪️ Subsequently, a pair of F-16C/D fighters took off from a base in Diyarbakir and attacked Kurdish positions northeast of Dohuk, dropping two guided bombs. An E-7T AWACS aircraft provided air support.

▪️ An hour later, approximately 30 personnel from the Commando mountain brigade of the Turkish army were landed in the area from two AS-532 transport helicopters to assess the results and gather intelligence.

🔻 Under the cover of T-129 Atak attack helicopters and three Akynji UAVs, the servicemen conducted reconnaissance of the area before returning. This operation indicates that Ankara is preparing to increase its activity in Iraq and possibly in Syria as well. Moreover, such a landing allows the Turkish army to evaluate its capabilities and assess the strength of the Kurdish opposition.

For a high resolution map and the English version of the information, click on the respective links.

#Iraq #Syria #USA #Turkey
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🇮🇶🇸🇾🇹🇷 Turkish troops are continuing their operations in Syria and Iraq. Currently, there are no conditions for the start of the ground phase, and their activities in the border areas mainly consist of regular artillery attacks on the strongholds and positions of Kurdish groups.

🔻In northern Syria, the Turks have reduced their use of artillery in recent days. Near Manbij, Turkish troops targeted several strongholds of the Syrian Democratic Forces.

However, the intensity of these attacks has decreased. This is likely because the Turkish Armed Forces have been rotating their units since December 13. Just two days ago, 196 military personnel arrived in the occupied territories, and the rest are expected to be replaced by December 18.

🔻In Iraq, the situation is different: there has been an increase in missile attacks on the northern regions. Over the past five days, Turkish aircraft, including fighters and drones, have conducted four operations to target PKK hideouts.

It cannot be said that the effectiveness of the Turkish actions has increased in any way. However, it has been noted that they do not require this. Under the pretext of counter-terrorism, the Turks have tested four types of ammunition from the Akıncı, namely Teber-82, MAM-T, MAM-L, and MAM-S.

For a high-resolution map, click here.
For the English version, click here.

#Iraq #Syria #Turkey
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🇪🇺🇩🇪🇺🇸🇹🇷 When considering Poland's emergence as the de facto leader of Europe, one cannot help but think of Turkey, which plays a similar role in advancing Anglo-Saxon interests. With its status as the second largest NATO army, Turkey effectively wields its power in the Middle East.

It is true that the Turks can only dream of the privileges that the Americans grant to the authorities in Warsaw. This is evident in the recent years' military-industrial cooperation between the two states.

▪️ While the US quietly granted the Poles access to a portion of the Patriot air defense missile system production technology, they denied Turkey's request for the same. As a result, Ankara decided to purchase Russian S-400s, prompting the US to block the shipment of F-35 fighters to Turkey, even though they were sold to Poland without any objections.

▪️ In previous years, Washington also prohibited Turkey from exporting combat helicopters powered by American engines to Pakistan. Additionally, the White House is currently refusing to supply F-16 fighter jets to Turkey unless they consent to Sweden joining NATO.

Despite this unequivocal stance, the Turks continue to align themselves with Anglo-Saxon plans, not only in their region but also against Western Europe. They have plenty of tools at their disposal, including the use of refugees as a weapon against the EU, which Ankara has been doing for a long time.

Furthermore, Turkey itself is not opposed to once again expressing its frustration with Germany for decades of empty promises regarding EU membership. At the opportune moment, the United States or Great Britain can simply give the command "Go!" and leverage this anger to their maximum advantage.
#Germany #EU #Turkey #USA
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🇺🇸🇹🇷🇸🇪 After the Turks approved Sweden's entry into NATO, the expected benefits from the Americans followed: Joe Biden sent a letter to Congress requesting approval for the sale of F-16 fighter jets and 80 modernization packages to Turkey, totaling $20 billion.

The Turks' feigned hesitation with Sweden could be seen as an attempt to negotiate the best conditions for themselves. Obtaining relatively new aircraft, necessary parts, and assemblies was what the Turks needed due to the obsolescence of their existing F-16C/D.

🔻There is no final decision yet because we need to wait for Congress's approval. However, it is highly likely that there won't be any problems. It is still unclear which modification of the F-16 the Americans will sell and when this will happen, as there are many versions available.

We must also remember the significant backlog of aircraft orders. Many countries, such as Bahrain and Slovakia, have been waiting for fighter deliveries for years.

#USA #Turkey #Sweden
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Fwd from @istanbul_wolf
🇹 🇷🇺 🇸The US State Department has approved the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey, with a total value of $23 billion.

Today, the US State Department officially notified Congress about the potential sale of F-16s, which are estimated to be worth $23 billion.

Turkey has made a request for 40 new F-16 Block 70 fighters, as well as 79 F-16 Block 70 upgrade kits.

Additionally, the list includes 48 F110-GE-129D engines.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), which is affiliated with the Pentagon, has sent a formal notification letter to the relevant congressional committees. However, it is important to note that this notification does not guarantee that the transfer will actually take place.

From this point forward, the process will continue within Congress.

#Turkey
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🇦🇲🇦🇿 While Pashinyan proposes to the people of Armenia to change the constitution in a way that is "organically connected" with them, in Azerbaijan, Turkish politicians are using military rhetoric. For instance, Hulusi Akar, Chairman of the Parliamentary Commission on National Defense of Turkey, stated at Heydar Aliyev's grave that these two countries are "united in purpose, united in spirit, and united in their armed forces."

After hearing this, it is not difficult to understand the deep concern of many Armenians, especially when Azerbaijan has recently started mapping mining deposits in the neighboring country. It is hard to believe that there is a genuine concern for the environment from a reliable energy supplier to the EU through the Southern Gas Corridor.

#Azerbaijan #Armenia #Turkey
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🇹🇷 The Turks have commenced mass production of their own missile systems, including the Tayfun ballistic missiles, Sungur anti-aircraft missiles, Karaok anti-tank missiles, and TRLG-230 jet missiles.

All these weapons have already undergone extensive testing in various ways, and some have even been utilized in real combat operations.

The Turks have an ideal training ground in Iraq and Syria, which they justify by claiming to be "fighting Kurdish terrorists." Additionally, the TRLG-230 MLRS has been in service with the AFU since last spring.

🔻The Turkish command has been gradually increasing production. Last fall, the number of shells produced increased, and now they have moved on to missile systems.

One could argue that this is all part of some contracts, but there aren't many of them. Given the escalating situation in the Middle East, the geopolitical ambitions of the Turkish authorities have also grown. In such circumstances, the army must be prepared for new challenges.

Furthermore, significant changes in the political status of the Kurds (which they are trying to consolidate) will undoubtedly compel the Turks to react if their positions in Syria are threatened. Not to mention the increasingly prominent signs of aggression in the Transcaucasus, where Turkey plays a crucial role.

#Turkey
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🇹 🇷🇺 🇦✈️ The Turkish company Baykar has announced the start of construction of a plant for the production of UAVs in Ukraine. This plan has been discussed since 2022. According to the statement, the facility will be built near Kyiv in approximately 12 months, and it will employ about 500 people.

The exact location of the new enterprise is not yet known for certain, but it would make sense to place it on the premises of an existing industrial structure with a runway. The Antonov plant in Kyiv, as well as the Boryspil airport, are well-suited for this purpose.

At first glance, the construction of a plant under the conditions of periodic attacks may seem somewhat unrealistic. However, previous experience has shown that disabling such an object is not as easy as it may seem. For example, the Kharkov Armored Plant, after a series of precise attacks, was able to resume operations within just a month and a half. The combat units did not have enough power to destroy the main workshops and equipment inside.

On the other hand, Ukrainian forces are actively strengthening their air defense by acquiring new batches of Western air defense systems. The outskirts of Kyiv, in particular, are highly protected, with several Patriot batteries alone, in addition to other European and American defense complexes.

The emergence of the Baykar plant can only be prevented by a precise missile strike. This, in turn, depends on several factors, including the careful selection of targets and the availability of missiles.
#UAV #Kyiv #Turkey #Ukraine
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🇸🇾🇹🇷 From Friday to Sunday, the Turks resumed rocket attacks in northern Iraq. During the three days of the active operation, they carried out more than 30 targeted strikes using various types of weapons.

As part of the attack, F-16C/D fighters from Batman and Diyarbakir air bases, Akıncı and Anka-S drones from Batman and Van, as well as T129 Atak attack helicopters from Yuksekov were involved.

The targets were PKK facilities in the Zap and Metina regions. They hit strongholds in the mountains, underground PKK shelters, and several vehicles with Kurds inside.

❗️The Turkish operation has been extremely ineffective, but that is not important to Turkey. The Turkish leadership is primarily focused on PR for its weapons and demonstrating its fight against terrorism.

It is worth noting that Turkish troops regularly accompany the operation in Iraq with a massive information attack directed against Kurdish forces in order to increase their rating in the eyes of the population, especially amid the growing inflation in the country.

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#Iraq #Syria #Turkey
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🇦🇿🇹🇷🇦🇲 A meeting took place in Ankara between the Defense Ministers of Turkey, Yashar Güler and Azerbaijan, Zakir Hasanov, where they discussed military cooperation between the two countries and issues concerning regional security.

It's reported that Hasanov also met with the Chief of the Turkish General Staff, General Metin Gurak, and toured Turkish military installations and military-industrial complex facilities.

Interestingly, just a month ago, the technical director of the Turkish company Baykar, Selcuk Bayraktar, visited Azerbaijan and, along with the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, toured the Akinci UAVs production plant, recently adopted by the Azerbaijani army.

🔻In the meantime, Armenia is actively seeking new allies and rearming its army with the assistance of France, Greece, and India.

▪️ Consequently, Azerbaijanis are accusing third countries of supplying weapons to Armenia and preparing the country for war. However, the reality is quite the opposite: preparations are underway for potential aggression in Baku, and they seem to be progressing well.

▪️ On the other hand, Armenia is facing challenges. It's worth noting that the French Ministry of Defense delivered old armored vehicles and a few partially functional radars to the Armenians, which undoubtedly won't enhance the army's defensive capabilities.

▪️ Recently, the Armenian Ministry of Defense signed a military-technical cooperation agreement with Greece, which also seems unpromising. Athens primarily acquires equipment from the West for themselves, and their outdated models are more likely to be transferred to Kyiv than to the Armenians.

▪️ Additionally, military-technical cooperation with India through the procurement of howitzers and MLRS may help diversify military-industrial complex product supplies to some extent. However, it's known that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is currently restructuring the army, replacing experienced personnel who resisted territorial losses during the Second Karabakh War.

📌It's evident that in Baku, with active support from Turkish authorities, preparations are being made for a genuine war, while in Yerevan, efforts are focused on superficially strengthening the country's defense capabilities and engaging in unproductive intrigues on the international stage.
#Armenia #Azerbaijan #Turkey
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⚡️🇦🇿🇹🇷🇷🇺 Weapons from Azerbaijan to Ukraine

One can find many interesting things by examining various Ukrainian documents available online.

📌For instance, the decision of the Kyiv Economic Court sheds light on the military cooperation between Azerbaijan and Ukraine.

▪️ At the end of December, the Kyiv Economic Court reviewed a claim from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense against UkrSpetsExport to recover 82,696,776.00 hryvnia for breaching a state contract for weapon supply.

▪️ Representatives of the Ukrainian company signed a deal with a “foreign supplier - production association (Azerbaijan Republic)” for providing 95 units of 23-mm ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft guns, followed by another 40 units. In total, 135 ZU-23-2 were supplied.

▪️ The delivery was done via sea containers in parts through a “third country”, leading to a delay in the delivery.

▪️ Considering the geographical location, Turkey might have been the third party for receiving ZU-23-2 from Azerbaijan’s Nakhichevan.

▪️ The delivery dates also support the Turkey version: at that time, the well-established grain corridor was fully operational, with Turkey being one of the guarantors. The use of the sea route for supplying Ukraine might indicate direct Turkish involvement.

📌This can be seen as the first concrete confirmation of Azerbaijan supplying weapons to the AFU. The document states, “On November 2, 2022, and November 3, 2022, the entire batch of 135 units under the contract was imported into Ukraine in parts,”.

❗️Azerbaijan's collaboration with Ukraine is not new. Previously, the authorities in Baku provided humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Subsequently, it was revealed that ammunition was being produced for the AFU, and Azerbaijani mercenaries were involved on the side of the AFU. This arms transfer once again raises questions about Azerbaijan's stance towards Russia.

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#Azerbaijan #Turkey #Ukraine
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🇨🇾🇹🇷 The Situation in “Northern Cyprus” and Why the Turks are Interested in Escalation

Amidst highly critical statements by the self-proclaimed leader of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Ersin Tatar, one must question why he has chosen to speak out at this particular moment.

▪️ Turkey is facing a significant rise in inflation, with the economy spiraling further downward, and the Erdogan government has yet to identify, let alone implement, a viable solution.

▪️ Recent municipal elections in Turkey revealed vulnerabilities within Erdogan's party, which performed poorly during the electoral process.

▪️ Calls for early presidential elections are gaining traction among the opposition, dissatisfied citizens, and those critical of the current state of affairs.

🔻While the Erdogan government refutes such possibilities, the current leadership's position has significantly weakened, causing understandable concern for the Turkish president.

Typically, Erdogan would divert attention by invoking the "Kurdish card," launching military operations in Syria and Iraq, which previously garnered public support.

However, the Kurds are no longer a priority for the Turks. While they remain active near the border, their presence does little to address the country's economic downturn. Even orchestrated or actual terrorist incidents, orchestrated by Turkish intelligence services, are unlikely to yield the intended results.

❗️Nevertheless, a localized conflict presents a different prospect. Historically, the perceived defense of the pro-Turkish population in Northern Cyprus has been a go-to strategy during crises, such as the current one.

Consequently, Tatar's provocative rhetoric serves to draw attention to this region, with a potential for a minor escalation if needed to divert focus from domestic issues. #Cyprus #Turkey
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