Politics
4 PKK terrorists surrender to security forces in Iraq
Four PKK terrorists have surrendered to security forces in northern Iraq in the past week, Defense Ministry spokesperson Zeki Aktürk said Thursday, as Türkiye has entered a process to achieve peace and lead to the PKK’s dissolution.
In a weekly briefing, he said the surrenders followed proactive policies of the armed forces and continued search and border security operations.
Aktürk further said: “112 people, including a member of a terrorist organization, who were trying to cross our borders illegally, were caught. Since Jan. 1, the number of people caught trying to cross illegally has reached 2,447. With the 1,192 people prevented in the last week, the number of people prevented this year has reached 36,003.”
He added that since Jan. 8, 124 kilometers of tunnels used by terrorists have been eliminated both in Syria’s Tal Rifaat and Manbij.
Terrorists from the PKK and other groups, such as its Syrian wing, the YPG, and Daesh, rely on a network of members and supporters in Türkiye. In response, Ankara has been conducting pinpoint operations and freezing assets to eliminate the terrorist groups at their roots.
The PKK’s leadership had been struggling to recruit both militants and higher ranks, according to reports.
In recent years, Türkiye has stepped up domestic operations and efforts across its borders against the terrorist group and convinced many members to abandon the PKK.
Protests by a group of families in front of the pro-PKK Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) headquarters in Diyarbakır demanding the return of their sons and daughters, who were recruited or kidnapped to fight for the terrorist group, have also helped increase the number of people surrendering.
Turkish authorities detained 12 suspects in a coordinated operation across nine provinces targeting a cybercrime network accused of infiltrating public institutions’ digital systems and exploiting citizens’ personal data, officials said.
The operation, led by the National Intelligence Organization (MIT), was carried out in cooperation with the Cyber Security Directorate, the Gendarmerie General Command and the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK), following a joint investigation into the group’s activities.
Raids were conducted early in the morning in Istanbul, Konya, Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa, Manisa, Mardin, Batman, Çanakkale and Hakkari, centered on the capital Ankara, where prosecutors are overseeing the case. Authorities said the suspects were apprehended in simultaneous operations targeting what they described as an organized cybercrime structure.
According to security sources, the network had been under surveillance by MIT as part of an intelligence-led probe into attempts to gain unauthorized access to government information systems.
Investigators found that the group used malicious software to target login credentials of public sector employees, enabling them to infiltrate systems and carry out transactions through compromised accounts.
The stolen data was allegedly distributed through a multilayered network and sold for profit under a “franchise-like” model to third parties. Officials said the information was marketed to various criminal actors, including fraud networks and, in some cases, groups linked to terrorism-related activities.
During the operation, authorities seized numerous domestic and foreign-based servers, data storage systems and digital materials believed to be connected to the network. Forensic examinations by the Cyber Security Directorate revealed that the suspects actively operated systems allowing unauthorized queries of personal data.
Investigators also identified multiple cryptocurrency wallets and digital financial assets linked to the group, which are now under examination as part of the financial dimension of the probe.
One key suspect, accused of building and managing the network’s technical infrastructure and operating under a code name to conceal his identity, was detained in the southeastern province of Mardin. Authorities allege he played a central role in expanding the network by facilitating data-sharing with various criminal entities.
Officials said the investigation remains ongoing and could expand as new evidence emerges, emphasizing that efforts to dismantle cybercrime networks will continue.
In 2025, MIT intensified efforts against cybercrime and illegal access to personal data. In coordination with the Gendarmerie General Command, the National Cyber Incident Response Center (USOM) and the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK), multiple operations were carried out across several provinces.
Throughout the year, more than 1,200 fraudulent websites linked to cyber fraud schemes were shut down.
Qatar’s Shura Council Speaker Hassan bin Abdullah al-Ghanim on Thursday highlighted the growing diplomatic influence of Türkiye and Qatar, saying the two countries play a key role in mediating regional conflicts and supporting humanitarian efforts, particularly in Gaza.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 152nd General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Istanbul, al-Ghanim described the forum as a high-profile platform for international cooperation. He emphasized that Ankara and Doha maintain “deep-rooted and strategic” ties, marked by close coordination on political and humanitarian issues.
“Türkiye and Qatar play a very important role in resolving disputes and conflicts,” al-Ghanim said, noting their joint mediation efforts in regional crises and their ability to maintain dialogue between opposing sides.
He also underscored Qatar’s ongoing support for Palestinians, particularly in Gaza, where humanitarian conditions have sharply deteriorated amid the continuing conflict. Doha has been a central mediator in cease-fire negotiations and hostage exchanges, working alongside partners including Egypt and the United States, according to reports from international agencies.
Türkiye, for its part, has been one of the most vocal advocates for a cease-fire and increased humanitarian access. Ankara has delivered aid shipments, hosted diplomatic talks and pushed for international recognition of Palestinian statehood. The Turkish Parliament also launched initiatives such as a parliamentary group focused on Palestine and Jerusalem.
Al-Ghanim said the Qatari Shura Council is coordinating closely with Turkish lawmakers to align parliamentary efforts aimed at easing Palestinian suffering and mobilizing global support.
Beyond Gaza, Türkiye and Qatar have expanded cooperation across defense, trade and diplomacy over the past decade. The two countries have also worked in tandem on regional issues, including conflicts involving Iran and broader Middle East security challenges, often positioning themselves as key intermediaries.
Their partnership, al-Ghanim said, continues to contribute to stability through dialogue and coordinated action.
Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş held a series of bilateral meetings on Friday with his counterparts from Russia, Georgia, Luxembourg and others, focusing on parliamentary cooperation as well as regional and global developments.
The talks took place on the sidelines of the 152nd assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, hosted in Istanbul.
In his meeting with the Russian Parliament speaker, Kurtulmuş welcomed Federation Council Chair Valentina Matviyenko and said he hoped the gathering would deepen dialogue. He pointed to close ties between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Russian President Vladimir Putin as a driver of cooperation across multiple fields, and said parliamentary engagement could further strengthen relations.
Kurtulmuş reiterated Ankara’s opposition to unilateral sanctions on Russia, arguing they carry broader political and humanitarian consequences. He also highlighted the importance Türkiye places on Moscow’s support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, calling for stronger international efforts to halt Israel’s actions in Palestinian territories.
Matviyenko said her recent meeting with Erdoğan had been productive and credited leadership-level contacts for advancing bilateral ties. She added that closer parliamentary coordination would help expand cooperation and reaffirmed Russia’s backing of a two-state solution.
In talks with Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili, Kurtulmuş stressed the importance of peace and stability in the Caucasus. He called for strengthening the Türkiye-Georgia-Azerbaijan trilateral mechanism and suggested broader regional cooperation could be pursued with Armenia’s inclusion.
He also underlined the goal of increasing bilateral trade to $5 billion and described the Middle Corridor as strategically important for both commerce and regional stability. Kurtulmuş said lasting peace in the Black Sea, Middle East, Eastern Mediterranean and Caucasus would contribute to wider prosperity.
Papuashvili, for his part, welcomed the opportunity to attend the IPU gathering and expressed condolences over the victims of a recent school attack in Türkiye.
During a separate meeting with Luxembourg’s parliament speaker Claude Wiseler, Kurtulmuş emphasized the value of stronger cooperation between NATO allies, particularly in defense. He also highlighted Türkiye’s diplomatic efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war and its preference for dialogue in addressing regional tensions.
Kurtulmuş criticized Israel’s actions in the region and underscored the importance of recent moves by several Western countries, including Luxembourg, to recognize Palestine, saying such steps help sustain momentum toward a two-state solution.
The Turkish army has long been in the top 10 in international rankings for military strength. Now, it plans to further bolster its standing, as the Defense Ministry said in a statement on Thursday that it is planning to set up new commando brigades.
The statement said the ministry was following changes in the nature of warfare and technology and was “updating its structure based on needs and the experience drawn from the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran.”
“In this context, we started work on increasing the number of commando brigades. They will be different than the current brigades and will be set up with a modern understanding, compatible with current threat assessment and operation concepts,” the ministry said.
Türkiye is part of the NATO alliance, where it retains the second-biggest army. The army is battle-tested in counterterrorism operations and serves in various NATO missions, particularly in the Balkans. The country is on alert against the expanding Israeli threat in the region, which peaked with the war on Iran. Israel, in the meantime, drums up a threatening narrative toward Türkiye, which has been a strong opponent of the genocidal regime in the face of atrocities in Gaza and beyond.
At a weekly press briefing at the National Defense University in Istanbul, ministry spokesperson Brig. Adm. Zeki Aktürk said the army served in a wide region as part of bilateral relations and international missions. He recalled that Turkish F-16 fighter jets and ATAK and Cougar helicopters performed a salute flight in Somalia’s Mogadishu on April 12, as part of celebrations for the anniversary of Somalia’s army.
Aktürk said that they would continue to support permanent peace and efforts to upgrade the temporary cease-fire in the U.S.-Israel-Iran war to a permanent one, “before it becomes more complex and unmanageable.”
Emphasizing that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) continue to improve their operational capabilities through national and international training and exercise activities, bringing modern warfare capabilities to advanced levels and increasing effectiveness and deterrence, Aktürk listed several exercises the army participated in recently.
“The activities for the Distinguished Observer Day of the Computer-Aided Command Post Phase of the EFES-2026 Combined Joint Operation Exercise, coordinated by the Aegean Army Command and held between April 11-17, were conducted in Istanbul yesterday and are being held in Izmir today. The live-fire phase of the EFES Exercise will take place in Izmir between April 20 and May 21. The Dynamic Minotaur/Kurtaran Submarine Search and Rescue Exercise, hosted by our country with the participation of 20 countries, is being held in the Eastern Mediterranean on April 15-21. The Distinguished Observer Day of the exercise will be held on April 20 aboard the TCG Alemdar. Our ships TCG Gaziantep, TCG Bayraktar, TCG Bartın, and TCG Yüzbaşı Güngör Durmuş, along with the Çağrı Bey drilling ship and accompanying support vessels, reached Mogadishu, Somalia, on April 9-10. Our frigate TCG Gaziantep and our fuel ship TCG Yüzbaşı Güngör Durmuş continue their mission of escorting and protecting the Çağrı Bey Drilling Ship off the coast of Somalia,” he said.
Aktürk stated that the army continues to modernize its defense capabilities with the opportunities provided by the local and national defense industry. Stating that efforts to further increase the army’s advanced technological equipment and deterrent power continue, Aktürk pointed out that the Land Forces Command recently commissioned a number of Fırtına-2 howitzers as well as Akıncı drones.
“Additionally, various quantities of ACAR 300-G ground and UAV surveillance radars by Aselsan have been delivered to our land forces,” he said.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan warned that foreign military deployments to Cyprus under the pretext of tensions involving Iran must not become permanent, reaffirming Türkiye’s readiness to defend the Turkish Cypriots.
According to the Presidential Communications Directorate, Erdoğan made the remarks during talks with Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Tufan Erhürman at the Dolmabahçe Working Office in Istanbul, where bilateral ties and regional developments were discussed.
Erdoğan emphasized that military elements deployed to the island under the pretext of tensions involving Iran should not become a lasting presence.
He reiterated that Türkiye remains ready to take all necessary steps to defend the Turkish Cypriots and will not allow their rights and interests to be undermined.
Senior officials, including the head of the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) Ibrahim Kalın, Communications Director Burhanettin Duran, chief foreign policy and security adviser Akif Çağatay Kılıç and presidential adviser Zafer Çubukcu, also attended the meeting.
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Deputy Chair Semih Yalçın announced that the staff at three branches of the party in the western, central and eastern cities of Kütahya, Eskişehir and Kars were relieved of duties.
The decision unveiled on Thursday on social media follows a similar dissolution of the party’s branches in the country’s most populated city, Istanbul, earlier this month.
Yalçın cited several articles in the party’s charter for the reason of dissolution, while he did not elaborate on the decision. He also announced new names to lead the branches in three cities.
The Istanbul dissolution was the first major reshuffle in the party in years and followed the departure of Izzet Ulvi Yönter, an influential deputy chair of the government ally. Yönter has reportedly left his tenure to pursue an academic career.
The MHP, one of the oldest nationalist parties in the country, has survived multiple splits, which led to the foundation of the Good Party (IP) and the Victory Party (ZP). It still stands strong in the polls, trailing behind the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP).
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