180 commandos carry out airborne operation with parachute: Türkiye

By Diyar Guldogan

KAYSERI, Türkiye (AA) - A team of 180 expert commandos on Thursday carried out an airborne exercise with parachutes in central Türkiye.

The drill in Kayseri was part of the Erciyes-2023 airborne exercise, which started on Oct. 2 and is due to wrap on Friday.

The exercise includes participants from friendly and allied countries, including Azerbaijan, Georgia, Pakistan, Spain, Italy, and Libya. The UK and Bahrain are also present as observers.

Over 650 personnel are taking part in the exercise.

The exercise aims to carry out combined and joint operations with friendly and allied countries and to develop airborne capabilities.

It also aims to gauge units’ combat readiness by implementing training for Battlefield Function Areas within brigade integrity, and to improve the planning and conducting skills of all personnel by experiencing combat conditions within a scenario.

Speaking on the exercise’s distinguished observer day, Gen. Selcuk Bayraktaroglu, commander of the Turkish Land Forces, called the exercise an "important opportunity" to improve friendship and cooperation between the countries and their interoperability capabilities.

"In today's operational environment, where the understanding of conventional warfare has changed, asymmetric threats have increased, and proxy wars have come to the fore, we better understand the importance of having the ability to conduct joint and combined operations,” he explained.

"With this understanding, we continue our efforts to improve the opportunities and capabilities of our forces for the security of our country and region.”

The airborne exercise allows Türkiye to share knowledge and experience with friendly and brotherly countries, he said.

"I hope that the training and exercises held in the days to come will make valuable contributions to the development of friendship and cooperation between our countries," he stressed.

During the distinguished observer day, two targets were successfully destroyed by Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones.

Also, the Turkish Special Forces Command maroon berets performed fast descent with rope, and ensured the safety of the region as part of an exercise scenario.

Taking part in the exercise are units and elements from the Turkish General Staff, Land Forces Command, and Air Forces Command.