Politics
Terrorist group PKK evacuates Northern Iraq camps
Turkish security sources said Monday that the terrorist group PKK had evacuated four accommodation areas in Metina, a region in northern Iraq, as a process aimed at the group’s full disarmament continued. The statements confirmed remarks by a senior PKK figure who claimed the group had left tunnels in Metina on Oct. 8.
The development comes amid the “terror-free Türkiye” initiative, launched in 2024 to secure the dissolution of the terrorist group. Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, who plays a key role in the initiative, said Monday that the process was advancing positively.
Sources said the Hebat, Yajk, Sabri and Sason shelter areas in Metina’s Baze region were evacuated on Oct. 8, while Turkish media outlets broadcast footage showing PKK members leaving the areas, which served as terrorist hideouts. The footage showed empty tunnels and members of the group walking away with their belongings.
Earlier, Murat Karayılan, a senior PKK figure, said in an interview that the group had completed its withdrawal from Metina to demonstrate that it posed no threat to Türkiye. Karayılan also claimed that the PKK had ordered its clandestine units in major cities, including Istanbul, to withdraw. Security sources said the shelter areas had posed a security risk to Türkiye and described the PKK’s withdrawal as decisive progress in the process.
The sources described the move as an indication that the process was continuing, saying efforts under the initiative were aimed at strengthening regional stability and reinforcing Turkish-Kurdish fraternity.
Following the termination of the PKK’s activities in all areas, members of the group who return to Türkiye under prospective legal arrangements are expected to undergo a social integration process. Comprehensive programs in areas including education and the economy are also planned to facilitate their reintegration into society.
The sources said the broader process aims to establish lasting domestic peace in Türkiye and enable all segments of society to live together in peace and security. They added that steps taken under the initiative were intended to strengthen regional stability and social cohesion.
The initiative was launched in 2024 by Devlet Bahçeli, leader of the government’s ally, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). Bahçeli, who has long taken a hard-line stance against the PKK and previously called for the execution of its jailed ringleader, Abdullah Öcalan, argued that the group’s dissolution would serve Turkish-Kurdish unity amid growing threats to Türkiye’s security and existence.
Öcalan responded to Bahçeli’s call by instructing the PKK to lay down its arms. The group complied in 2025, beginning to destroy its weapons at a ceremony in northern Iraq in a symbolic move. Since then, Turkish intelligence has been monitoring progress toward full disarmament.
Meanwhile, the Turkish Parliament passed legislation in August providing for the deferral of sentences and prosecution for PKK members who were not involved in deadly terrorist acts.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA) on Monday, Yılmaz, who chairs a state board overseeing the initiative, said the process was “progressing positively” after becoming state policy.
“This has become a state policy, and with the work being carried out within this framework, the terror-free Türkiye process is moving forward on its course and in a positive direction,” he said.
Yılmaz said legislation aimed at strengthening national solidarity and social integration had been adopted by Parliament with 467 votes following lengthy deliberations in a commission, creating a model unique to Türkiye.
He said Türkiye had reached a “historic opportunity” to resolve an issue that had accumulated over decades and, according to government estimates, had cost the country at least $2.3 trillion.
Yılmaz also described the process as a major window of opportunity, stressing that resources devoted to counterterrorism could instead be directed toward the country’s development and higher democratic standards.
“We will redirect the energy we have spent on fighting terrorism toward development and improving our democratic standards and living standards. We see this as a major window of opportunity,” he said.
‘Century of brotherhood’
He said permanently ending terrorism would usher in a new era for Türkiye’s democracy and development, adding that the government’s “Century of Türkiye” vision would also be a “century of peace and brotherhood.”
The vice president linked the initiative to a broader regional vision, saying resources in countries such as Iraq and Syria should benefit their own populations. He said Türkiye aims to strengthen peace and security at home while helping establish an environment of stability and prosperity across the region.
Yılmaz said the legislation establishing the framework for the process envisaged two main stages.
The first involves the laying down of arms, verification of disarmament on the ground and confirmation by Türkiye’s National Security Council that weapons have been surrendered and the organization dissolved, he said.
The second stage provides for the temporary supervised release of individuals convicted of certain offenses, with applications to be submitted within a six-month period. He said four subcommittees had been established under the Monitoring and Evaluation Board, with the Judicial and Legal Affairs Coordination Subcommittee and the Social Cohesion and Integration Subcommittee preparing for their roles in the second stage.
On disarmament, Yılmaz said there had been positive developments on the ground but cautioned that such processes were difficult and required patience. He cited the evacuation of some caves in sensitive areas near Türkiye’s border and steps to remove structures that posed security threats.
Yılmaz also pointed to developments in Iraq, including the transfer of control over the Sinjar region to the Iraqi government and the completion of the mission of Türkiye’s Bashiqa camp.
“There is positive progress on the ground, but these are difficult processes. After all, these are processes shaped by many years. We need to follow the process patiently and move toward the goal step by step,” he said.
Yılmaz stressed that the decision to dissolve the organization and lay down its arms had been taken by the PKK itself, adding that Ankara expected the group to implement those decisions gradually.
“We expect them to take these steps gradually. We will verify and identify developments on the ground and submit them to the relevant bodies,” he said.
He added that Parliament was also expected to establish a structure to monitor the entire process, noting that the parliamentary speaker had begun consultations with political parties on the issue.
Yılmaz stressed that Türkiye was addressing the issue through its own institutions without seeking outside mediation.
“Türkiye is a country that resolves its own problems without taking them to another power, a third party or an international organization,” he said. “If it achieves complete success, I believe this will be a success story that sets an example for the world,” he added.
Yılmaz said the process required cooperation among Parliament, the government and civil society, arguing that it should transcend party politics. He also expressed hope that the broad parliamentary cooperation seen in the process could be replicated on other major national issues, including efforts to draft a new constitution.
The Houthis’ ongoing attacks targeting Saudi Arabia are under the spotlight in Türkiye, which signed a key defense deal with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan last August. Devlet Bahçeli, leader of the government ally Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), reiterated that deal, which evolved into the Mecca Defense Alliance, and urged the government to throw all military support behind the defense of Saudi Arabia. “(Saudi Arabia) should be enabled to respond to acts violating international laws decisively and sensitively,” Bahçeli said at the parliamentary group meeting of his party in Ankara on Tuesday.
As civil war in Yemen flared up this summer, Houthis spread it to Saudi Arabia, prompting the central government in Yemen to launch an all-out operation against the group last week. Saudi Arabia’s oil and military installations were among the main targets of the Houthis. The attacks then spilled over into King Khalid Airport, leading to at least a dozen casualties. The civilian casualties drew international condemnation.
On Oct. 5, top ministers of Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan gathered in Riyadh for the meeting of the Strategic Political and Defense Committee of the alliance and decided to deploy military forces and capabilities to Saudi Arabia. The move is the most concrete step since the agreement was signed in August by the top officials of Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, to showcase the impact of the alliance in the broader region.
Drawing attention to the fact that Houthi attacks targeting the holy lands were serving the goal of destabilizing the region, Bahçeli said: “We cannot turn a blind eye to, remain silent about or tolerate attacks targeting our first qibla, Al-Aqsa Mosque, our qibla, the Kaaba or the blessed sanctuary of the Prophet Muhammad.”
Stressing that attacks targeting the holy lands could not be ignored under any circumstances, Bahçeli said all available diplomatic means should be used and, if these proved insufficient, deterrent force should be employed. “Under the Mecca Alliance, our country must be enabled to provide Saudi Arabia with all possible military support for its defense and to respond sensitively and resolutely to approaches that also violate international law,” he said. Emphasizing that escalating Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia had caused heavy civilian casualties, Bahçeli said attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure clearly constituted serious crimes under international and humanitarian law.
Bahçeli said attacks launched from Yemen against Saudi Arabia must be condemned in the strongest terms, recalling previous assaults. “These heinous attacks undoubtedly target the peace and stability of the entire region. The renewed escalation of the conflict that has persisted in Yemen for years threatens the security of the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, posing serious risks to international trade, energy supply security and regional economic stability. At this difficult time for the Middle East, no action that deepens hostilities among regional countries, opens new fronts of conflict or costs civilian lives can be excused. Regardless of the justification offered, attacks targeting civilians can never be considered legitimate,” he said.
On Sunday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a stern statement condemning the Houthi attack on the airport and reiterated support for Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Bahçeli said Türkiye was committed to its obligations under the joint defense agreement.
“For years, our ancestors bore the honorable title of Hadimü’l-Haremeyn (Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques). (Ottoman general) Fahrettin Pasha’s legendary defense of Medina stands as a powerful testament to this sense of duty. It was on these lands that the heroic Turkish soldier, nurtured in the hearth of the Prophet, earned the title of Mehmetçik. Thank God, our faith, conviction and determination regarding our sacred lands have never waned, they remain alive in the hearts of our nation and are firmly embedded in the institutions and strength of our state,” he stated.
“We hope the Houthis will immediately halt their attacks, a lasting political solution will be established in Yemen, and regional disputes will be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. Everyone in the region must act with restraint and remain guided by reason and sound judgment. No more Muslim blood should be shed, and our entire region must be able to live in an environment of peace and security,” Bahçeli added.
Calling for a united stance against those who turn sectarian differences into grounds for conflict, pit Muslim communities against one another, squander the region’s resources on wars and sow seeds of discord, Bahçeli said: “The Islamic world must stand united, and infighting among brothers must end immediately.”
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) is going through a challenging period, but a new survey shows it remains the country’s leading political party. A poll conducted by research company Asal among 2,020 people between Oct. 4 and Oct. 10 found that 31.6% of respondents would vote for the party if a general election were held today.
The main opposition New Party (YP) followed with 25.2%. The Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) ranked third with 8.8%, slightly ahead of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), the AK Party’s partner in the People’s Alliance. The Good Party (IP) followed the MHP with 7.1%, ahead of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), which received 5.1%.
The IP was founded by former MHP members, while Özgür Özel’s ouster as CHP chairman in May led to the establishment of the YP by Özel and fellow CHP lawmakers in July. The Victory Party (ZP), also founded by former MHP members, trailed the CHP in Asal’s poll with 3.4%.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s chief adviser Mehmet Uçum, who also serves as deputy chair of the Presidency’s Legal Policies Board, sought to clarify the debate over the date of the next elections last month. Uçum told journalists that the elections would most likely be held on April 16, 2028, the anniversary of a 2017 referendum on the transition to an executive presidential system. He also stressed that this would be the last election in which Erdoğan would be eligible to run.
Uçum said the elections could be held on that date if Parliament approved their renewal, a move that would require the support of 360 lawmakers. He described the possibility of an election in the last quarter of 2027 as “low,” amid opposition calls for an early vote.
Under Turkish law, the next general election would normally be held in May 2028. However, the Constitution allows Parliament to call an early election with the support of at least 360 of its 600 lawmakers, a move that would open the way for Erdoğan to seek another term. The People’s Alliance holds 326 seats in Parliament.
The government has repeatedly insisted that elections will be held on schedule. Erdoğan, who became prime minister in 2003, was elected president in 2014 after serving three terms as prime minister.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s name has come up in discussions on efforts to secure peace, or at least a cease-fire, between Russia and Ukraine. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha told Ukrainian news agency RBC-Ukraine on Monday that renewed peace efforts could be possible “either together with Trump or through the mediation of President Erdoğan.”
“We are ready for this,” he said, adding that possible talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin could “at the very least” focus on a cease-fire and an exchange of prisoners of war.
Sybiha said Ukraine wanted trilateral talks to be held as soon as possible and would seize any opportunity to pursue peace. He stressed that a meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin was essential to ending the conflict.
In a phone call with Putin last week, Erdoğan reaffirmed Ankara’s readiness to contribute to efforts to establish direct dialogue between Russia and Ukraine.
An increasingly influential player in international diplomacy, Türkiye successfully brokered the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which facilitated the shipment of Ukrainian agricultural exports to global markets during the war. Although the initiative did not achieve all its objectives, Türkiye has remained one of the few countries capable of facilitating negotiations, thanks to its close ties with both the Kremlin and Kyiv. In 2024, Türkiye helped mediate one of the largest prisoner swaps between Russia and the United States since the Cold War. Separately, Istanbul has hosted meetings between Russian and Ukrainian delegations throughout the conflict.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said at a joint news conference in Ankara with his Hungarian counterpart last week that Türkiye had worked to resolve the conflict since it began. Fidan, however, warned that the war remained a major threat to regional and global stability, particularly security in the Black Sea.
He cited the grain initiative and Türkiye’s strict enforcement of the Montreux Convention as concrete elements of Ankara’s efforts. He also expressed concern about the conflict spilling over into the Black Sea, noting that Turkish-owned vessels flying the Turkish flag had been targeted.
“Increasing attacks on civilian vessels are a grave threat to Black Sea security. The regional countries should not allow the Black Sea to become a new front in the conflict. We warned both sides of the conflict on this matter,” Fidan said.
He added that Türkiye had also made several proposals to both sides to help resolve the conflict.
The Kremlin on Monday rejected a 60-day cease-fire proposed by Zelenskyy to allow Ukraine to hold presidential elections, saying it wanted a comprehensive peace deal instead.
“Please tell Putin, give us two months, 60 days of total cease-fire, 60 days, and we will organize elections,” Zelenskyy told ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday that Russia wanted a long-term peace deal rather than a temporary cease-fire.
“In the Kremlin, both President Putin and officials at other levels have repeatedly stated that we do not want a cease-fire,” Peskov said. “We want long-term peace and are prepared to do everything possible to achieve it.”
Russia has long pressed Ukraine to hold elections, arguing that Kyiv’s failure to do so renders Zelenskyy an illegitimate leader. Elections during wartime are prohibited under Ukrainian law.
Under Erdoğan’s leadership, Türkiye has raised its diplomatic profile and achieved results in its peacemaking efforts.
The veteran politician has reshaped Turkish foreign policy to safeguard Türkiye’s interests and support the rights of oppressed peoples. In the Karabakh conflict, a major issue for Türkiye’s ally Azerbaijan, Erdoğan voiced Ankara’s support for Baku’s fight against Armenian occupation. Türkiye’s military and political support contributed to the outcome of the 44-day Second Karabakh War, which began on Sept. 27, 2020, and ended with Azerbaijan’s victory. The war effectively ended nearly three decades of Armenian control over Azerbaijani territories and enabled Azerbaijan to regain control of its lands.
Erdoğan’s diplomatic efforts and support for Libya’s internationally recognized government also helped shift the balance of power in the country, which had been mired in political turmoil since the fall of Moammar Gadhafi. Türkiye supported the government in Tripoli as armed groups backed by foreign actors sought to seize the capital, intensifying the conflict.
Türkiye has also sought to mediate disputes across Africa, a continent long shaped by outside powers’ competing interests. In 2024, Erdoğan stepped in to help resolve tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia, hosting Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed at the Presidential Complex in Ankara. The two leaders announced an agreement following talks hosted by Erdoğan.
Previously, Türkiye hosted rounds of talks between Somalia and Somaliland in 2013 and 2014, laying the groundwork for further negotiations. In 2021, Erdoğan offered to mediate between Egypt and Ethiopia over the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. Türkiye also reached out to Ethiopia to help end the conflict in the Tigray region. That year, Erdoğan also offered to mediate a border dispute between Ethiopia and Sudan.
Erdoğan again stepped in when a new conflict erupted between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Türkiye’s intervention helped bring the parties to the negotiating table, although efforts to secure a lasting settlement remained challenging.
Under Erdoğan’s leadership, Türkiye has also played a role in peace efforts in the Middle East. Working alongside Qatar and Egypt, Ankara helped mediate Israel-Hamas negotiations and efforts to secure a cease-fire to end Israel’s attacks on Gaza, which began in October 2023.
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Ünal Üstel announced “Target 2033” on Monday, an ambitious set of plans to be developed jointly with Türkiye to shape the future of the country on the divided island of Cyprus.
Speaking at the launch of the program in Lefkoşa (Nicosia), Üstel laid out plans to cut energy costs by at least 50%, construct 15,000 social housing units, resume Cyprus Turkish Airlines (KTHY) flights in 2028 and launch general health care insurance next year.
The event in Lefkoşa was entitled “Projects Making Life Easier” and aims to boost the welfare of the TRNC, which was isolated by the international community. 2033 in the title refers to the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the TRNC.
Üstel said they signed protocols with Türkiye for the allocation of about TL 75 billion ($1.52 billion) in resources to realize the projects in energy, health care, transportation, technology, housing, education, agriculture and social support. “We will continue working for the country we dreamed of,” he said.
Üstel said projects to complete an electricity interconnection with Türkiye and a natural gas pipeline are also targeted for completion in this period, highlighting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s support. “Despite all the obstacles posed by numerous international organizations and the Greek Cypriot side, we will definitely complete the electricity interconnection project with Türkiye via cable,” Üstel said.
Üstel said an additional 300 megawatts of natural gas-fired power generation capacity and a 40-megawatt backup unit will be added to the existing 430-megawatt capacity of the Cyprus Turkish Electricity Authority (KIB-TEK). He said the energy infrastructure will be renewed within five years through an investment of approximately $200 million. Electrical lines will be laid underground, starting in Lefkoşa, while a solar power plant with a capacity of up to 100 megawatts and a 25-megawatt energy storage unit will also be built. “We will reduce energy costs for households and businesses by at least 50% through interconnection, natural gas, solar energy and storage units. These investments will put an end to power outages, one of the biggest problems facing our country,” Üstel said.
Üstel announced that a new health care protocol would be prepared with Türkiye, aiming to allow TRNC citizens covered by the General Health Insurance scheme to receive treatment at contracted hospitals in Türkiye. “We will enable all citizens covered by the General Health Insurance scheme to receive treatment from all contracted hospitals and health care facilities in Türkiye under the same terms while they are there, under the protocol we will sign with Türkiye,” he said.
Noting that four meetings had been held with Turkish officials, Üstel said the protocol would be discussed during his visits to Ankara, with the system targeted to launch on March 1, 2027.
As part of health care investments, Üstel said the 343-bed New Lefkoşa State Hospital was scheduled for completion in 2027, while the Karpaz Pamuklu State Hospital was expected to be completed by the end of 2026. He also announced plans to build a new state hospital in Iskele and three oral and dental health hospitals in Lefkoşa, Gazimağusa (Famagusta) and Girne (Kyrenia). The health care system will also receive a helicopter ambulance, and a new 112 emergency coordination center will be established in Nicosia.
Üstel said the government aimed to relaunch Cyprus Turkish Airlines, declaring that “Cyprus Turkish Airlines will be back in the skies in 2028, after a 16-year hiatus.”
He argued that the airline’s return to service would boost tourism and help stabilize ticket prices. Üstel also said more than 200 kilometers (124 miles) of roads had been built or renovated over the past five years. An additional 150 kilometers of road investments are planned for the new term, he said, outlining projects including the Haspolat-Atatürk Teacher Training Academy road, the Ercan-Iskele dual carriageway and the Girne-Güzelyurt West Coastal Road.
Üstel announced the establishment of a Maritime Affairs Department and said Girne Tourism Port and Gazimağusa Port would be modernized within two years. Lefke Port and its marina would be restored, while a new marina would be built in Iskele.
Üstel said work had begun on a fiber-optic infrastructure project being carried out with Türkiye. Following talks with Turkish telecoms provider Türk Telekom, work would begin simultaneously at both ends of the island, he said.
“Within one year, the fiber-optic project will provide 150,000 households and businesses across the TRNC with high-speed internet, allowing them to access internet speeds five times faster at much more affordable prices,” Üstel said.
Recalling that a protocol signed with Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz had been referred to the Constitutional Court, Üstel said an additional protocol had been prepared, and the project had been resubmitted to the TRNC Assembly for ratification.
Üstel also announced the “Cyprus Tech” project, saying tax exemptions and employment incentives would be offered for investments in software, artificial intelligence, information technology, cybersecurity and advanced technologies. The entire TRNC will be turned into a hub for technology investment, he said.
Recalling that social housing projects had been relaunched after nearly 30 years, Üstel said the government would increase its target for an ongoing 3,000-home investment program to 15,000 homes in the new term.
He said approximately 5,000 citizens would be offered low-interest, long-term loans under the “Home-Building Loan” scheme.
Üstel also announced new family support measures. Working women with children up to age 6 would receive child care support equivalent to half the minimum wage, while women who are not registered with the social security system and could not enter the workforce because of child care responsibilities would receive monthly support equal to one-third of the minimum wage, he said.
Value-added tax (VAT) on consumer goods for children up to age 12 would be eliminated, Üstel said, adding that elderly citizens and those requiring care would receive assistance equivalent to half the minimum wage.
He also said first-time homebuyers would be allowed to use 50% of their savings in the Provident Fund without having to repay it. An additional 200 people with disabilities would be employed in the public sector, while social security premium support for women entrepreneurs would be extended from 60 months to 72 months, he added.
Outlining measures to combat the rising cost of living, Üstel said the government aimed to eliminate VAT on essential consumer goods, provide freight support for imported products and extend the VAT deferral period for imports to 90 days.
“We will prevent a product sold for 100 Turkish liras in Türkiye from being sold for 150 liras in our country,” he said.
Üstel added that a comprehensive support package for young people would be announced within a week. He said construction of the New Atatürk Stadium and Sports Complex was targeted to begin in early 2027. The 500-space parking lot planned for the complex would also serve as an emergency assembly area, he added.
Three new sports halls would be built in Iskele, Lefke and Gazimağusa, Üstel said, announcing plans to establish a Youth and Sports Ministry in the new term.
The Lefkoşa Cultural and Arts Center would be completed within two years, while multipurpose youth centers would be established in all six districts, he said.
In education, Üstel said 30 new schools and 622 classrooms had been added over the past five years, with six school projects still underway.
He also said approximately TL 7 billion in support had been provided to agriculture and livestock, while the agricultural support budget had increased by 321%.
Noting that the Century’s Water Project, implemented with Türkiye, was being expanded, Üstel said work was continuing to extend water supplies to the Mesaoria Plain following their delivery to the Güzelyurt Plain.
Commenting on economic indicators, Üstel said the TRNC’s gross national product increased from TL 74 billion in 2022 to approximately TL 333 billion in 2025, while per capita national income rose from $12,245 to $20,121 over the same period.
Protocols with Türkiye
He said protocols signed with Türkiye had brought approximately TL 75 billion in resources to the TRNC.
During his government’s tenure, Ercan Airport was completed, state hospitals in Girne and Güzelyurt were opened, local government reform was implemented, and more than $200 million in investments and contributions were provided to KIB-TEK, Üstel said.
Expressing gratitude for Türkiye’s support, Üstel said: “I would like to thank, in the presence of all of you, the Turkish nation and, in particular, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Lefkoşa and its institutions for the support they have provided under the Economic and Financial Cooperation Agreements for the projects we have completed to date and the many major projects planned for the coming period.”
Üstel said new investments would continue in line with the TRNC’s 2033 vision, adding that other major projects that had not yet been announced would be unveiled to the public at two separate launch events.
Authorities apprehended 17 suspects on Oct. 7 in yet another operation targeting corruption allegations engulfing municipalities. The deputy mayor of Esenyurt, Istanbul’s most populous district, was among them. New details from the investigation indicate that Yusuf Ulutaş, a lawyer who previously served as deputy mayor of Istanbul’s Beyoğlu district, enriched himself through bribes.
A report by the Sabah newspaper says Halil Yılmaz, a businessman, told authorities that Ulutaş demanded TL 9 million in exchange for settling the municipality’s outstanding debts to Yılmaz. The businessman said he paid the money in two separate installments at Ulutaş’ municipal office.
Ulutaş and nine other suspects were remanded in custody last week, while the remaining suspects were released under judicial control. The investigation concerns allegations of corruption and bribery at the municipality, which is currently run by a district governor appointed as a trustee following the 2024 arrest of former Mayor Ahmet Özer on charges of links to a terrorist group.
According to the Sabah report, the investigation uncovered a scheme involving kickbacks from public tenders, millions of dollars handed over in cash and secret financial transactions among suspects. Investigators examined witness and suspect statements and uncovered how certain companies were favored in municipal tenders and how municipal officials allegedly demanded 20% of the amount owed to companies in exchange for releasing payments for work they had completed.
Another suspect, Orhan Yıldırım, admitted to paying Ulutaş around $400,000 in exchange for the release of outstanding payments, the report said. An investigation by the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) found that 20% of payments made to companies for work carried out for the municipality were transferred to municipal suspects on the same day the payments were made.
Authorities identified another suspect, Anıl Alioğlu, as an alleged intermediary who delivered bribes from companies to municipal officials. The investigation also found that bribes were not always paid in cash and were sometimes delivered in the form of gift cards redeemable at supermarkets and laptop computers.
An examination of Ulutaş’ bank accounts showed that the transaction volume surged to TL 231 million in 2025 from just TL 601,000 in 2017. Investigators also found a transaction volume of TL 212 million in the accounts of Ulutaş’ sister, who works for Turkish Airlines (THY).
The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) will wrap up a multiweek exercise in the capital, Ankara, on Oct. 22, with a distinguished visitors’ day scheduled for this week. The exercise is in the spotlight as an opportunity to demonstrate the capabilities of locally produced weapons.
Held in Ankara’s Polatlı district, which has long been home to an artillery school, the exercise involves units from all branches of the military, including the Air Force and the Naval Forces.
In the region where Mustafa Kemal Atatürk led an outnumbered army against invading Greek forces 105 years ago, the TSK has had the opportunity to test new weapons and hone its shooting skills. Weapons and defense systems tested during the exercise include the Boran howitzer, the Karaok anti-tank weapon system, electronic warfare equipment, and armed and unarmed drones. A total of 95 weapons and weapons systems are being used in the exercise, while 104 different types of weapons and defense systems are on display in an exhibition area. The Turkish Stars, the military’s aerobatic team, will also perform on Oct. 15 as part of the exercise.
During the exercise, targets at various ranges were hit using sniper rifles of different calibers and specifications. The firing drills employed the domestically developed KNT 76 and Bora 12 rifles chambered in 7.62 mm, the KN12 in 8.59 mm and the KALE-KSR 50 in 12.7 mm.
The 105 mm Boran lightweight towed howitzer, designed for airborne transport and used in counterterrorism operations and challenging terrain, was another highlight of the exercise. It began entering service in 2022 and is equipped with modern artillery systems that enable it to determine its own position and orientation. Capable of firing in 360 degrees, deploying in as little as one minute and firing six to eight rounds per minute, Boran can also conduct direct-fire missions at night and provide close protection thanks to its direct-fire sighting system.
The exercise featured a wounded personnel evacuation and firing drill demonstrating cooperation between an unmanned ground vehicle and a tank. According to the scenario, after the tank reached the wounded person and deployed a smoke screen, the unmanned, modular Palem ground vehicle transported the casualty to a safe area.
Targets were also hit using Panter howitzers during the exercise. Developed using domestic resources and capabilities, the Panter howitzer was integrated into 88 tactical wheeled vehicles in 2025, contributing to the TSK’s firepower and mobility.
The 155 mm Panter howitzer can engage targets at distances of up to 40 kilometers (24.85 miles) with a five-person crew. Its ability to change positions in as little as two minutes enhances its mobility and survivability on the battlefield.
The Karaok anti-tank weapon system was also showcased during the exercise. Developed entirely by Türkiye’s Roketsan using domestic resources and capabilities, Karaok is a third-generation, short-range guided anti-tank weapon featuring a fire-and-forget capability.
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