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Vatan, Turke
Oct 15 2012
Action Plan Ready!
Armed forces prepared for worst case scenario in Syria
by Levent Icgen
The TSK [Turkish Armed Forces] has prepared its action plan in the
event of war, the "worst case scenario." According to this plan, which
aims to use land, sea and air forces combined, 2nd Army will play an
active role.
Amid the tensions with Syria it has been learnt that the TSK command
echelons have prepared an action plan for war, the "worst case
scenario."
According to this plan, which factors in Syria's means and
capabilities, Russia's presence in the region and the PKK, 2nd Army is
going to play an active role. The plan includes risk analyses and aims
to use land, air and naval forces together in any operation. The
limits of the plan, which also envisages the use of Special Forces,
will be determined by a government directive in the event of war. This
directive will determine the desired political and military goals in
the event of war as well as how far to advance and which regions will
be kept under control.
The TSK is conducting many operations in the fight against terrorism
and has all kinds of threat planning regarding its local neighbours.
The TSK has plans concerning every kind of threat including Syria,
Iran and Greece. It has been learnt that threat planning for Syria
intensified after the increase in tensions and that risk analyses were
revised given the shifting balances of power in parallel with the
chaos within the country. The plan has reportedly been updated
according to the latest intelligence on the Syrian army's numbers and
strength of arms.
Experienced Commanders
In the event of any operation against Syria the 2nd Army will play an
active role, and it is commanded by four-star General Galip Mendi.
General Galip Mendi, who has Special Forces experience, was appointed
Commander 2nd Army by the YAS (Supreme Military Council) last August
to replace General Servet Yoruk. In addition to Mendi, who received
his fourth star this year, another name with plenty of experience was
appointed to the Hatay border region, which is one of the most
critical provinces facing any possible threat from Syria. Brigadier
General hakan Atinc had been serving in Agri [Ararat] along the border
with Armenia and has now been appointed Commander of the Mechanized
Infantry Brigade in Hatay. In any operation both Gen Mendi and Brig
Atinc will play critical roles. Another point of critical importance
for the border with Syria is the Iskenderun Naval Base, which is now
commanded by Rear Admiral Nejat Atilla, an experienced officer from
the Aegean Command. Brigadier General [Air Commodore] Semih Kosucuoglu
was made Commander 7th Main Jet Base Command in Malatya after
previously serving as Chief of Pilot Operations for Air Force Command.
Military Build-up on Syrian Border
Once the Syria authorization bill was passed the TSK went to a high
state of readiness on the border. At least 250 tanks are deployed
along the border with the addition of 60 tanks sent in from Sanliurfa,
Mardin and Gaziantep. The TSK has also reinforced its artillery units.
Close to 55 F-16s have been sent to the air bases in Diyarbakir and
Malatya-Erhac from five other bases. As part of this, reinforcements
have reportedly been sent from the Golcuk and Erdek naval bases, which
belong to Naval Command, and from other commands subordinate to
Northern Coastal Command to bases belonging to Southern Coastal
Command, which is responsible for the Aegean and the Mediterranean and
which provides logistic and coastal support for warships. Stinger
missiles have been deployed to the region, which Chief of the General
Staff General Necdet Ozel is inspecting along with his force
commanders. The Stinger is a man-portable, shoulder-fired weapon that
homes in on the target's infrared or ultraviolet light.
[Translated from Turkish]
Oct 15 2012
Action Plan Ready!
Armed forces prepared for worst case scenario in Syria
by Levent Icgen
The TSK [Turkish Armed Forces] has prepared its action plan in the
event of war, the "worst case scenario." According to this plan, which
aims to use land, sea and air forces combined, 2nd Army will play an
active role.
Amid the tensions with Syria it has been learnt that the TSK command
echelons have prepared an action plan for war, the "worst case
scenario."
According to this plan, which factors in Syria's means and
capabilities, Russia's presence in the region and the PKK, 2nd Army is
going to play an active role. The plan includes risk analyses and aims
to use land, air and naval forces together in any operation. The
limits of the plan, which also envisages the use of Special Forces,
will be determined by a government directive in the event of war. This
directive will determine the desired political and military goals in
the event of war as well as how far to advance and which regions will
be kept under control.
The TSK is conducting many operations in the fight against terrorism
and has all kinds of threat planning regarding its local neighbours.
The TSK has plans concerning every kind of threat including Syria,
Iran and Greece. It has been learnt that threat planning for Syria
intensified after the increase in tensions and that risk analyses were
revised given the shifting balances of power in parallel with the
chaos within the country. The plan has reportedly been updated
according to the latest intelligence on the Syrian army's numbers and
strength of arms.
Experienced Commanders
In the event of any operation against Syria the 2nd Army will play an
active role, and it is commanded by four-star General Galip Mendi.
General Galip Mendi, who has Special Forces experience, was appointed
Commander 2nd Army by the YAS (Supreme Military Council) last August
to replace General Servet Yoruk. In addition to Mendi, who received
his fourth star this year, another name with plenty of experience was
appointed to the Hatay border region, which is one of the most
critical provinces facing any possible threat from Syria. Brigadier
General hakan Atinc had been serving in Agri [Ararat] along the border
with Armenia and has now been appointed Commander of the Mechanized
Infantry Brigade in Hatay. In any operation both Gen Mendi and Brig
Atinc will play critical roles. Another point of critical importance
for the border with Syria is the Iskenderun Naval Base, which is now
commanded by Rear Admiral Nejat Atilla, an experienced officer from
the Aegean Command. Brigadier General [Air Commodore] Semih Kosucuoglu
was made Commander 7th Main Jet Base Command in Malatya after
previously serving as Chief of Pilot Operations for Air Force Command.
Military Build-up on Syrian Border
Once the Syria authorization bill was passed the TSK went to a high
state of readiness on the border. At least 250 tanks are deployed
along the border with the addition of 60 tanks sent in from Sanliurfa,
Mardin and Gaziantep. The TSK has also reinforced its artillery units.
Close to 55 F-16s have been sent to the air bases in Diyarbakir and
Malatya-Erhac from five other bases. As part of this, reinforcements
have reportedly been sent from the Golcuk and Erdek naval bases, which
belong to Naval Command, and from other commands subordinate to
Northern Coastal Command to bases belonging to Southern Coastal
Command, which is responsible for the Aegean and the Mediterranean and
which provides logistic and coastal support for warships. Stinger
missiles have been deployed to the region, which Chief of the General
Staff General Necdet Ozel is inspecting along with his force
commanders. The Stinger is a man-portable, shoulder-fired weapon that
homes in on the target's infrared or ultraviolet light.
[Translated from Turkish]