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Türkiye's National Defense Ministry (MoND) on Thursday said permanently ending terrorism would strengthen regional peace and stability, announcing this week that another PKK member surrendered and accusing Israel of sabotaging Gaza peace efforts.
The ministry's statement on Gaza came during a wide-ranging weekly press briefing on Thursday that also covered border security figures, NATO deployments, new weapons deliveries, and the relocation of a multinational military headquarters to Istanbul.
"In line with the Terror-Free Türkiye vision, permanently and completely removing terrorism from the agenda will make significant contributions not only to our country's peace, security and stability, but also to that of our region," the ministry said in a statement.
"In this respect, Terror-Free Türkiye is a strategic vision that strengthens national security and contributes to regional stability," the statement noted.
"Our Turkish Armed Forces will continue to carry out the duties and responsibilities incumbent upon them in this process with the same determination as before, and will continue to take every necessary measure to crown the success achieved in the fight against terrorism with a lasting environment of peace and security," the statement said.
MoND Press and Public Relations Counselor and Ministry Spokesperson Rear Adm. Zeki Akturk, speaking at the ministry's weekly briefing, said one more PKK member surrendered over the past week.
"In the past week, one more PKK terrorist surrendered, and efforts to detect and destroy caves, shelters and hideouts, as well as mines and improvised explosive devices, continued in operation zones," Akturk said.
Akturk said Türkiye has stepped up technology-driven measures at its borders to prevent smuggling and illegal crossings and strengthen the fight against terrorism.
"In the past week, 490 people were apprehended. Since Jan. 1, the number of people caught trying to illegally cross our borders has reached 7,443, and with 924 people intercepted (this week), the number of people blocked this year has reached 44,802," Akturk said, adding that "Also this week, a search operation along the Hakkari border seized approximately 8 kilograms of narcotics."
The Turkish official also noted that the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) continue contributing to regional and global peace and stability through bilateral relations and international missions, particularly with NATO.
"Within the framework of NATO's Enhanced Air Policing mission, the transfer of our five F-16 aircraft and accompanying personnel, who will serve between Aug. 1 and Nov. 30, 2026, to Estonia was completed on July 31, and our elements began their mission as of Aug. 1," he said.
Akturk underlined that the TAF continues training and exercise activities without interruption to maintain a high state of readiness.
"The Joint Fire Exercise, which began July 20 in Slovakia, will end tomorrow, while the Baltic Trust Counter-Drone Exercise, which began Aug. 4 in Latvia, will end Aug. 14," he said.
He added that Italy's naval element, San Marco, was making a port visit to Antalya from Aug. 2-6 as part of student training activities. Greece's naval vessel Kountouriotis and Italy's naval element Montecuccoli, under NATO Standing Maritime Group 2 (SNMG-2), were making port visits to Aksaz from Aug. 4-6, he said, while National Defense University Naval War College cadets aboard the training ship TCG Osmangazi were set for a port visit to Livorno, Italy, from Aug. 5-7 as part of open-sea training.
The frigate TCG Orucreis, which made a port visit to Lisbon, Portugal, from July 31 to Aug. 3 after completing its NATO Standing Maritime Group 1 (SNMG-1) mission, was scheduled to visit Civitavecchia, Italy, from Aug. 7-11, Akturk said.
Addressing developments in the Middle East, Akturk said Türkiye reiterated the importance of both sides showing prudent and responsible conduct in the negotiations underway between the United States and Iran to secure lasting peace and stability in the region.
He noted that Israel is the biggest obstacle to establishing lasting peace and stability in the region, saying, "Israel continues to deliberately sabotage diplomatic efforts toward a ceasefire and lasting peace in Gaza at a time when those efforts have been progressing positively."
"As a result of Israel targeting a tent camp sheltering displaced civilians and a health facility in Gaza last weekend, more than 30 civilians lost their lives. This attack constitutes the latest example of Israel's approach that disregards international law. We once again emphasize that it is essential for the international community to uphold international law and humanitarian values and take a more determined and firm stance against these actions by Israel for the establishment of peace and stability in the region," he added.
The ministry separately said the South-Eastern Europe Brigade (SEEBRIG), formed in 1999 to support stability, cooperation and good neighborly relations in Southeast Europe, has relocated its headquarters to Istanbul.
Türkiye previously hosted the SEEBRIG headquarters from 2007 to 2011 and will host it for a second time from 2026 to 2032, at the Istanbul 3rd Corps Command's Orgeneral Muharrem Mazlum Iskora Barracks, the ministry said.
"The SEEBRIG headquarters, based in Kumanovo, North Macedonia, had all of its vehicles, equipment, and materiel transported to Istanbul between July 19 and 21, 2026, with SEEBRIG personnel also relocating to Istanbul in stages during the same period," the ministry said.
"The brigade headquarters reached full operational capability in Istanbul on Aug. 3," the ministry noted.
The headquarters currently has 28 core personnel, 12 Turkish and 16 foreign, from six countries: Türkiye, Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, and North Macedonia, the ministry said.
Activation, change-of-command, and 27th anniversary ceremonies for the headquarters are planned together in Istanbul on Aug. 27, with the headquarters set to be formally activated on Aug. 31, according to the ministry.
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