Daily Agenda
Ceasefire statement from the Ministry of National Defense: The ceasefire in Iran must evolve into permanent peace
Ministry of National Defense Press and Public Relations Advisor and Ministry Spokesperson, Rear Admiral Zeki Aktürk, held a press briefing on the last week’s activities during the actual firing phase of the ‘Blue Homeland-2026 Exercise’ on the TCG Anadolu multi-purpose amphibious ship. Regarding the exercise, Rear Admiral Aktürk said, “The Blue Homeland Exercise is being carried out in the Black Sea, Aegean Sea and Eastern Mediterranean between 3-9 April in order to evaluate the operational management and management effectiveness of our Naval Forces, to develop the reasoning, foresight and decision-making abilities of the elements participating in the exercise in a very threatening environment, and to test interoperability procedures with other force commands. Within the scope of the exercise; operational preparation trainings, actual gun firings, logistics integration activities.” In the Blue Homeland Exercise, in which a total of 120 ships, 50 aircraft and 15 thousand personnel from our Naval Forces, Land and Air Forces and the Coast Guard Command took part, a kamikaze unmanned marine vehicle (KİDA) was destroyed for the first time with the TB-3 UCAV taking off from TCG Anadolu, and the national production ‘AKYA Heavy Class Warfare Torpedo’ was fired from the Sakarya submarine for the first time. “With its modern, floating, diving and flying elements, it will continue its activities uninterruptedly with perseverance, determination and a superior understanding of duty in order to protect our rights and interests, to maintain our effectiveness and to strengthen our deterrence, especially in our Blue Homeland, beyond our borders and in the world’s seas,” he said.
’10 PKK members surrendered’
Stating that the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) continues its fight against risk and threat elements with determination, Rear Admiral Aktürk said, “Within the scope of the ongoing operation and search and screening activities, 10 more PKK terrorists surrendered within the week, and in order to establish permanent security, the detection and destruction of mines, improvised explosives, caves, bunkers and shelters at our borders and beyond continued. In the Syrian operation areas, where the works to destroy the tunnel systems used by the terrorist organization continue successfully, a 1 kilometer long area destroyed in the Manbij region.” “Within the tunnel, the length of the destroyed tunnel reached 768 kilometers. In the last week, within the framework of the uninterrupted border security activities, 127 people, including 2 members of a terrorist organization, were caught trying to cross our borders illegally, and 1095 people were prevented before crossing the border. Thus, the number of people caught while trying to cross our borders illegally during the year was 1822, and the number of people prevented before crossing the border was 19 thousand 992.” he said.
‘WE ARE SATISFIED WITH THE ceasefire’
Aktürk made the following assessment within the scope of the developments in the Middle East:
“We are pleased that a temporary ceasefire has been established in the war that has been going on for more than a month in our region. Our wish is that the ceasefire conditions will be strictly implemented and this two-week temporary ceasefire period will be evaluated with constructive steps to evolve into a permanent ceasefire and peace, establishing stability, peace and security in the region. On the other hand, we expect Israel’s attacks, which violate Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and deepen instability in the region, to be stopped immediately. In addition, we expect the attacks on the Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israel’s rulers to be stopped immediately. “We condemn the raids and emphasize that the Al-Aqsa Mosque should be opened for worship and all restrictions that prevent freedom of worship in Jerusalem should be removed.”
NEW WEAPON SYSTEMS IN THE INVENTORY
Stating that the development efforts of the Turkish Armed Forces with domestic defense industry products are continuing, Rear Admiral Aktürk said, “In this context; our Land Forces Command has produced various amounts of TB-3 SİHA and Electronic Circuit Improvised Explosive Devices Detection and Neutralization System for the first time, and our Air Forces Command has purchased various amounts of Aksungur and Akıncı unmanned aerial vehicles and CATS Electro-Optical/Infrared Camera System, inspection and acceptance. “Within the scope of the ‘New Type Landing Ship Project’, where 8 units are planned to be procured, the second ship was put into service on April 3, and the port acceptance tests of the third ship were completed. Our Machinery and Chemical Industry Joint Stock Company (MKE) and ASFAT are participating in the International Air and Space Fair (FIDAE) held in Chile between 7-12 April,” he said.
’70 THOUSAND CANDIDATES COMPLETED THEIR PREFERENCES IN 2 WEEKS’
Explaining that personnel and military student recruitment/supply procedures continue in accordance with the planned schedule, Aktürk said, “70 thousand candidates completed their preferences in the first 2 weeks within the scope of the 2026 National Defense University Military Academy and Non-Commissioned Officer Vocational Schools Military Student Candidate Selection Process, which started on March 25. We thank our young people and their families who showed great interest. Within the scope of the Regional Career Fairs, Batı Akdeniz in Antalya on 13-14 April, 15-16 “There will be participation in the Aegean Career Fairs in Aydın in April. Applications for Permanent Worker Supply from Disabled Persons and Those Injured in the Fight against Terrorism, which started on April 6 and are being made to İŞKUR, will end tomorrow (April 10).”
‘JOINT STUDIES ARE BEING CONDUCTED’
Following Rear Admiral Aktürk’s presentation, the ministry made a written statement regarding the issues on the agenda. In the statement, regarding the technical examination of the C-130 aircraft that crashed on the Azerbaijan-Georgia border, “The activities of the technical examination committee, coordinated by our Air Forces Command, after the accident of the C-130E aircraft with wing number 68-1609 on November 11, 2025, continue uninterruptedly, first in the debris field in Georgia and then in the Kayseri facilities of the 2nd Air Maintenance Factory Directorate, where the debris was brought. Detailed examinations are carried out in a coordinated manner.” “And in this process, joint studies are carried out with the 1st Air Maintenance Factory Directorate Eskişehir, the 12th Air Transport Main Base Command, TAI, MKE and the relevant expert units of the Gendarmerie General Command.”
‘THERE WAS NO DATA FOUND IN THE RECORDER THAT WOULD ENLIGHTEN THE ACCIDENT’
In the statement, it was emphasized that the technical report studies were continuing, and said, “When the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) records were examined, it was determined that everything continued normally in the digital data records in the flight crew’s conversations and in the plane’s systems until the moment of the accident, no malfunction was detected, the incident developed suddenly, the recording ended as a result of the power and data cables of the FDR breaking due to the separation of the aircraft tail cone area from the aircraft body, and therefore there was no additional data in the recorder that would shed light on the accident. “As a result of detailed investigations, it was determined that the engine and propellers were working smoothly until the moment of the accident. No damage to the aircraft fuselage due to the propeller breakage was detected.”
‘NO EXPLOSIVE SURPLUS WAS FOUND’
Regarding the allegations of sabotage or attack, it was stated that “As a result of the examination of the samples taken from the plane wreckage by the Gendarmerie Criminal Directorate, no traces of explosive material were found inside or outside.”
‘BRIZZLE FATIGUE BEHAVIOR HAS BEEN DETECTED’
Regarding the examination of structural damage in the materials, “Additional metallurgical examinations and analyzes regarding the structural damage and traces on the parts taken from the aircraft wreckage are continuing in detail. It is expected that the fracture-section analyzes detected in the materials will be reported, and at this stage, it has been determined that the fractures did not start due to fatigue, but the materials exhibited brittle fatigue behavior in the tensile tests. The news about the nitrogen cylinder in the press does not reflect the facts, in fact the fire extinguishing liquid (Non-Flammable/Explosive Halon) was found in the aircraft. “It was determined that there were two 19-kilogram fire extinguishers (gas) fixed inside the aircraft, and that they were found in the aircraft wreckage intact and without any signs of hitting anything,” it said.
Possible causes of the accident were stated as follows:
“It has been evaluated that one of the axles located on the upper part of both wings, together with its tube filled with flammable/non-explosive carbon dioxide gas, came out of its slot and contacted the left tail-fuselage part of the aircraft, and from there the axle may have grasped the vertical stabilizer, and the impact of the tube may have caused structural damage to the fuselage, vertical and horizontal stabilizers, which may have caused the aircraft to crash, and metallurgical and technical investigations regarding the findings are continuing in the laboratories. Our people and the public are not responding to provocative statements other than official statements.” “As we have stated before, the final report to be prepared after the completion of the relevant processes will be shared with the public in a transparent manner.”
In the statement, the dinghy considered as the cause of the accident; It is stated that it is a life raft that automatically inflates when triggered, used to ensure that the personnel can safely leave the aircraft and survive when the aircraft has to make an emergency landing at sea or a large body of water.
‘PAST VIOLENT ACTS ARE DISTORTED’
In the statement made by the Ministry, regarding the events held on the anniversary of the founding of the Greek terrorist organization EOKA, “Presenting the violent acts carried out by EOKA in the past on the island of Cyprus as a ‘freedom struggle’ with one-sided and distorted narratives harms the efforts for a permanent solution and the current environment of trust on the island. In this context, the statements and events made on the anniversary of the founding of the EOKA terrorist organization are a clear indication that historical facts continue to be distorted and interpreted. The approach in question is based on Cyprus.” The fact that it is conveyed to children and young people in the Greek Cypriot side weakens the basis for mutual dialogue and understanding on the island. The recent provocative actions targeting civilians in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus are the current reflections of this distorted mentality. In this context, the Turkish Cypriot side continues its constructive and well-intentioned attitude towards the establishment of a fair, permanent and sustainable solution on the island. “We express once again that we have taken the necessary measures with determination against all kinds of threats and acts of violence. It is of great importance to avoid attempts that may increase tension on the island and to ensure that common sense prevails, in terms of preserving the peace and tranquility provided by the 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation.”
The number of Syrians under temporary protection in Türkiye, which was 3 million 737 thousand 369 in 2021, decreased by 38.5 percent to 2 million 296 thousand 568. Safe zones provided across the border within the scope of the policies implemented accelerated returns. Minister of Internal Affairs Mustafa Çiftçi said, “In line with the instructions and strong will of our esteemed President, we are taking steps carefully and determinedly that will contribute to our Syrian brothers living in peace and security on their own land. We support the ongoing efforts for revival, reconstruction and normalization of life. This allows the voluntary repatriation process to proceed on a healthier basis. In the coordination of our police and gendarmerie units, our work to update the records and carry out the process in an orderly manner is carried out meticulously. Our main goal is to ensure that this process is voluntary, “It is to be completed in a safe, orderly and human dignity-centered manner,” he said. Of the population under temporary protection, 1 million 183 thousand 799 were men and 1 million 112 thousand 769 were women. When looking at age groups, it was determined that the largest segment consisted of adults between the ages of 18-64, with 1 million 169 thousand 694 people. When we look at the distribution of Syrians under temporary protection by province, Istanbul is the city with the highest density of 405 thousand 16 people. Gaziantep and Şanlıurfa followed Istanbul, respectively. The province with the lowest number of registered people was Hakkari with 8 people.
Rector of the National Defense University Prof. Dr. Afyoncu made a presentation titled “Turks” within the scope of the “Rectors Conferences” program organized by Kyrgyzstan Türkiye Manas University (KTMU). Providing a comprehensive analysis ranging from the depths of Turkish history to modern defense technologies, Afyoncu said, “Turks became a nation that changed the way of war and turned it into a new war concept with the armed unmanned aerial vehicles they built and used. The course of the history of war changed with armed unmanned aerial vehicles (UCAVs), we were the first to use them.”
“Turkish UCAVs are the new version of the whistling arrows used by Mete and Fatih’s cannons,” he said. Expressing his satisfaction with the increasing population and strengthening structure of the Turkish world, Afyoncu stated that the Turks rule the world today with 7 independent Turkish states and a population of 250 million. Reminding that the Kyrgyz name is the oldest living Turkish tribe, Afyoncu added that the development and population increase of the Turkish states is promising for the entire region.
There was a simultaneous reaction across Türkiye to Zionist Israel’s systematic oppression of Muslims in Palestine. After the Friday prayer, the Palestine Support Platform condemned the death sentences against Palestinians and demanded that they be stopped.
The address of the meeting in Istanbul was Bağcılar Square. After the Friday prayer, despite the heavy rain, conscientious people filled the front of the Meydan Mosque to take a common stand against Israel’s death sentence and reacted against genocidal policies with the posters and slogans they carried in their hands. Photos representing a gallows and the coffins of babies and children murdered by Israel were placed on the platform set up in the area. After the press release was read, representatives of various non-governmental associations supported the protest action with photographs in their hands.
Palestine Support Platform President Osman Kabaktepe said, “The crowds gathered not only in Istanbul, but also in central squares all over the country, simultaneously declared to the whole world that they will not remain silent against this heavy oppression that goes beyond borders. They turned this geography into a bloodbath. We will strive for peace and justice again. They murdered women and children in the name of democracy. We will continue to stand against occupation and oppression together. No digital shenanigans can deceive us. Our 70 thousand people, “You will be held accountable for the deaths of babies and mothers. We thank everyone who took an honorable stand against this oppression. As said in the Friday sermon, we will continue to support Gaza with our hands, our tongues and our prayers.”
A protest was held in the capital Ankara against the Israeli Parliament’s decision to execute Palestinian prisoners. The address of the action was the courtyard of Hacı Bayram-ı Veli Mosque. Stating that the legalization of the execution of Palestinian prisoners by passing the Israeli Parliament is no different from genocide, Muhammed Cihad Çiğdem, Member of the Board of Directors of the Support Platform for Palestine, said: “Unfortunately, humanity has been held hostage by a fierce and perverted ideology. We are not going to remain indifferent to this attempt at captivity. The Zionist regime should know that we will resist the oppressors with our lives, our heads, our hands, our resources, our strength. “While the devastating pain of the genocide committed by the Israeli regime in Gaza remains vivid in our conscience, the new atrocities committed in Lebanon and Iran are once again deeply shaking humanity,” he said. Palestine Support Platform took action in Zonguldak to react to Israel and support the Eurasian Sumud Flotilla.
In Izmir, members of the Palestine Support Platform protested Israel’s “execution law” targeting Palestinian prisoners and the genocide in Gaza. The group gathered in Konak Square after the Friday prayer and condemned Israel’s attacks in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran.
The address of the demonstrations in Eskişehir was in front of the Çarşı Mosque.
The participants, who came together in Diyarbakır in front of the Grand Mosque in the central Sur district under the leadership of the Palestine Support Platform and Diyarbakır Islamic Non-Governmental Organizations, chanted takbir and shouted anti-US and anti-Israeli slogans.
In Trabzon, citizens met in front of the İskender Pasha Mosque. Citizens called on the world community to take action to end the Zionist oppression in the region.
HUMANITY IS STANDING
In Balıkesir, NGO representatives came together after the Friday prayer at Zağnos Pasha Mosque. The event, in which statements of support for Palestine were made and Israel was cursed, ended with a prayer for the Palestinians. Speaking at the demonstration, which was also supported by AK Party Deputy Chairman Belgin Uygur, Uygur said, “The latest decision (death sentence) has once again hurt the conscience of humanity. There is racism and discrimination. There is lawlessness. Our support platform for Palestine will say stop to this oppression, as it has been for 2 and a half years.”
The investigation initiated by the Izmir Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office after it was revealed that Aslıhan Aksoy, the girlfriend of CHP’s Uşak Mayor Özkan Yalım, was working as an ATM in Bornova Municipality, continues. The prosecutor’s office objected to the release of Bornova Mayor Ömer Eşki, Yalım’s beloved Aslıhan Aksoy, Bornova Municipality Personnel Inc. General Directorate Human Resources Manager Pervil Koç, and Bornova Municipality Press and Public Relations Deputy Director İlyas Aydınalp, who were detained on charges of “qualified fraud and forgery of official documents to the detriment of public institutions and organizations”. While the court rejected the prosecutor’s request, it imposed a travel ban on the suspects. On the other hand, it was determined that there were 8 more ATM employees in Bornova Municipality.
BANKAMATIC CONFESSION
SABAH reached the statements of the suspects. In her statement, Aslıhan Aksoy, who admitted that she was an ATM employee, said, “I got a job thanks to Özkan Yalım. I never went to work. Yalım said, ‘Don’t answer the phone, nothing will happen.’ My only crime was believing and trusting Özkan Yalım.
I was receiving psychological treatment. “I was not well,” he said. Mayor Eşki admitted in his statement that he hired Aslıhan Aksoy upon Özkan Yalım’s request. He admitted that Aksoy had received permission from her manager and then did not come to work. Deputy Press and Public Relations Manager İlyas Aydınalp said, “My staff said that he started working at the call center. Normally he did not have the right to leave, so he asked for permission to move. I had the salaries calculated for 5 months and 10 days. “I took out a loan and deposited 521 thousand 309 liras into the municipality’s account,” he said.
President Erdoğan received the participants who came to Istanbul for the 9th Meeting of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) Women’s Branch at the Dolmabahçe Working Office. Erdoğan noted the following in his speech: As the President of Turkey and the Chairman of the AK Party, I am a brother of yours who has walked with women in his political life of nearly half a century, been their companion in the cause, and has always been proud of this. Today, I would like to say with great pleasure that in our country, women produce more work, more effort and more added value in every field.
The Middle East geography, of which Türkiye is a part, has been going through truly painful, troubled and dark days in recent years. Especially women and innocent children bear the brunt of this. Let’s put our hands on our conscience and ask ourselves these questions with courage. Isn’t imposing the death penalty only for Palestinian prisoners called ‘apartheid’ (legal discrimination)? Isn’t this called using the law as a tool for racist fascism? Is there an essential difference between Hitler’s monstrous policies towards the Jews and the triumphant decision of the Israeli Parliament? Of course, these actions are discrimination and racism.
Celebration programs were held for the heroic members of the police force all over Türkiye on the occasion of the 181st anniversary of the establishment of the Turkish Police Organization and Police Week. Turkish police won hearts again by showing their superior capabilities on land, in the air and at sea in these programs. The graves of martyred police officers were also flooded with visitors. President Erdoğan gave important messages in his speech the day before when he received Minister of Internal Affairs Mustafa Çiftçi and his accompanying delegation on the occasion of Police Week:
In this period when the crisis, tension and conflict environment in our region intensifies, our police officers have a great share in Türkiye’s emergence as a safe haven. You devoted yourself to your country and nation, sacrificing time for your family when necessary, so that our nation could rest its head comfortably and live in peace and well-being. I congratulate each of you for this. I remember with mercy and gratitude all our police officers, soldiers, gendarmes, security guards and the heroes whose names we engrave in our hearts, who sacrificed their lives for the independence and future of this beloved nation in love with its independence.
We witnessed once again the devoted work of the police force in the terrorist attack on the police station in Beşiktaş district of Istanbul. Our police force fights without hesitation against all crimes and criminals, from terrorist organizations to poison dealers, from traffic hooligans to cyber gangs. You fought against street vandals when necessary, against terrorist elements targeting our unity and brotherhood when necessary, and against rootless and for-sale traitors, as in the July 15 coup attempt.
It should never be forgotten that our police are the apple of the state’s eye and a source of pride. This beloved nation will never forget your effort, effort and dedication, just as it forever engraved our heroic police officers, martyrs and veterans who defended the honor of our nation on the night of July 15th. As a state, we will continue to support our police force.
POLICE, A HERO WHO FIT COMPASSION AND COURAGE IN THE SAME HEART
First Lady Erdoğan: I congratulate the Police Week of our heroic police officers, who are the guarantee of our security and who embody compassion and courage in the same heart, and I wholeheartedly congratulate the 181st anniversary of the establishment of our Turkish Police Organization. I wish God’s mercy to all our police forces who were martyred in the line of duty, and I remember our veterans with gratitude.
Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, Numan Kurtulmuş, received the Head of the Protection Department of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, Murat Çelik, and the accompanying police members on the occasion of the 181st anniversary of the establishment of the Turkish Police Organization. Cabinet members and many politicians also published congratulatory messages for the police officers.ANKARA
Özgür ÖZDEMİR-Mustafa KAYA-Hakan GÖKKAYA-Uğur YİĞİT-Mehtap AYDOĞAN-Muhammed UZUN/ SABAH
-
Daily Agenda2 days agoBy-election message from Deputy Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Bekir Bozdağ: Turkish people do not have such an agenda
-
Daily Agenda3 days agoMinister Göktaş: “We do not have an agenda to close or ban the games”
-
Politics3 days agoTurkish police, gendarmerie capture 29 in coordinated FETÖ raids
-
Politics3 days agoTürkiye, UK discuss efforts to end regional war, push for lasting peace
-
Economy2 days agoTürkiye’s Şimşek touts ‘capacity’ to tackle shocks, says new steps possible
-
Daily Agenda2 days agoDMM denied the claim that ‘chemical spraying was carried out by planes’
-
Daily Agenda2 days agoAK Party Spokesperson Çelik: The important thing is to achieve permanent peace
-
Politics3 days agoTürkiye destined for key security role: VP Yılmaz