Statement from the MSB regarding our soldier martyred on the Iranian border

05.11.2026 13:42

The Ministry of National Defense made a statement regarding the martyrdom of Contracted Infantry Private Yusuf Sait Ünlü in the Yüksekova district of Hakkari as a result of fire assessed to have come from the Iranian side. Stating that a judicial and administrative investigation was launched after the incident, the Ministry of National Defense reported that on November 3, a meeting was held with Iranian officials at the scene, that the Iranian authorities also launched an investigation, and that coordination between the two countries continues to clarify the incident.

Ministry of National Defense Spokesperson Rear Admiral Zeki Aktürk held a weekly press briefing at the Ministry of National Defense Martyr Journalist Hasan Tahsin Press Briefing Hall. Providing information on the activities carried out by the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF), Aktürk announced that 6 PKK members surrendered in the past week.

Sharing data on border security, Aktürk said, "At our borders, where security is maintained at the highest level on a 24/7 basis, 665 individuals trying to cross illegally were apprehended, 8 of them members of a terrorist organization; 1,766 individuals were prevented before crossing the border, and thus, from January 1 to today, the number of those apprehended while trying to cross our borders illegally has been 15,294, and the number of people prevented has been 59,621."

Stating that the TAF continues to contribute to regional and global peace and stability within the scope of bilateral relations and international missions, especially NATO, Aktürk reported that Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler and Chief of the General Staff General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu attended the "Türkiye-Bulgaria-Romania Meeting of Defense Ministers and Chiefs of General Staff" held in Bulgaria on October 28. Aktürk noted that the "Türkiye-Albania Naval Forces Cooperation Meeting" held in Türkiye and the "NATO Naval Assault Forces Forum" held in Portugal will end today, while the "NATO Exercise Program Integration Conference" in Romania will end tomorrow.

Aktürk also touched upon the activities carried out within the scope of the Confidence-Building Measures Implementation Plan between Türkiye and Greece, and stated that the Commander of the Hellenic Tactical Air Force and the accompanying delegation visited the Commander of the Combat Air Force between November 3-5. Aktürk reported that today a Mixed Swimming Competition will be held hosted by the National Defense University Naval Academy with the participation of athletes from the military academies of the two countries. Aktürk, who also celebrated Azerbaijan's November 8 Victory Day and November 9 State Flag Day, stated that Türkiye is in unity and solidarity with Azerbaijan in line with the understanding of "Two states, one nation."

Aktürk stated that Minister Güler accompanied President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Istanbul on October 31 and his visit to the Republic of Korea on November 2-4, and announced that Minister Güler will today host Qatari Defense Minister Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman Al Sani and Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandrokovic.

Stating that the TAF continues its training and exercise activities in order to improve its combat effectiveness, increase its deterrence, and develop the qualifications of its personnel in accordance with the changing nature of warfare, Aktürk announced that the "Crossed Swords" exercise held in Estonia and with remote participation, and the "National Anatolian Phoenix Personnel Recovery" exercise in Konya will end on November 6, while the Türkiye-Hungary Special Forces Exercise held in Ankara will end on November 12.

Aktürk reported that TCG Anadolu, the TCG Gaziantep frigate, and the TCG Meltem fast patrol boat participated in the "Sea of Friendship-2026 Exercise" held in Alexandria, Egypt, between November 4-9. Noting that surface, anti-submarine defense, air defense, and underwater attack training were carried out within the scope of the exercise, Aktürk stated that the Distinguished Observer Day would be conducted on November 8 with the participation of the Commander of the Naval Forces.

Aktürk stated that the "Blue Whale Exercise" will be held in the Eastern Mediterranean between November 9-20, and expressed that the exercise aims to develop advanced-level coordination and cooperation among air, surface, and submarine elements against submarines on transit and patrol duty.

Reporting that the TAF will participate in the "Poseidon" and "NATO Tracia" exercises in Bulgaria, the "Infinity" exercise in Azerbaijan, and the "NATO Torrejon Archer Command Control" exercise to be held with remote participation between November 7-26, Aktürk announced that the Naval Component Command of the Multinational Force of the Ukraine Volunteers Coalition led by Türkiye will also participate in the "Koalicja 26.2 Exercise" from its headquarters in Istanbul between November 9-22.

Aktürk reported that within the scope of the 13th Activation of the Black Sea Task Group for Mine Countermeasures, to be carried out in the Western Black Sea between November 7-18, TCG Akçay will visit the Port of Varna, Bulgaria, on November 7-9. He noted that the TCG Gökçeada and TCG Yıldırım frigates, which set off on October 30 to transport materials to Somalia by sea and for duty rotation, will make a port visit to Djibouti on November 8-9.

Aktürk stated that within the scope of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 31), the Bulgarian Navy ship St. Cyril and Methodius will visit Antalya on November 8-12, while the Spanish Navy ship El Camino Espanol will visit Mersin on November 7-8 and November 10-12.

He reported that within the scope of the "Blue Whale-2026 Exercise," the Spanish Navy ships Patino and Blas de Lezo and the Hellenic Navy ship Aegean from the NATO Standing Naval Maritime Group-2 (SNMG-2) elements will make port visits to Aksaz on November 7-13. He also stated that within the scope of the port visits to Aksaz by the US Navy ships Mount Whitney and Bulkeley, a meeting is planned between the Commander of the Naval Forces and the Commander of the US 6th Fleet and NATO Naval Striking and Support Forces.

Aktürk reported that on October 30, colors were presented to the 3rd Amphibious Marine Brigade Command and the 2nd Logistics Support Ships Commodore Command with ceremonies held. Also providing information on the TAF's air activities, Aktürk announced that today (November 5), a training flight will be conducted in the Eastern Mediterranean with the participation of combat and support aircraft, and that on the occasion of November 10 Atatürk Memorial Day, SOLOTÜRK will perform a respect flight over Anıtkabir.

Stating that efforts continue to increase the strength and effectiveness of the TAF with war vehicles, equipment, and ammunition produced by the domestic and national defense industry, Aktürk said, "Our efforts continue to further increase the strength and effectiveness of our Turkish Armed Forces with war vehicles, equipment, and ammunition produced by our domestic and national defense industry, which is an inseparable part of our national security.

Providing information on personnel and military student recruitment activities, Aktürk stated that the applications for "Recruitment of 2026 Band Class Active Duty NCO Candidates from Graduates of Faculties or Colleges with at Least Four Years of Study for the Turkish Armed Forces" and "Recruitment of 2026 Active Duty NCOs from Graduates of Faculties or Colleges for the Turkish Armed Forces" will continue until November 23.

Following the meeting, journalists' questions were answered by the MoND.  In the response given by the MoND to the question asked regarding the martyrdom of Contracted Infantry Private Yusuf Sait Ünlü on October 31 as a result of fire opened during an intervention into an illegal border crossing incident in Hakkari's Yüksekova district, the following statements were included:

"On October 31, 2026, in the area of responsibility of the Engin Mayın Border Outpost on the Turkey-Iran border, during an intervention into an illegal crossing, Contracted Infantry Private Yusuf Sait Ünlü was martyred as a result of fire assessed to have come from the Iranian side. Immediately after the incident, a judicial and administrative investigation was initiated, and on November 3, 2026, a meeting was held with Iranian officials at the scene.

It has been learned that the Iranian authorities have also initiated a judicial and administrative investigation to clarify the incident in question. Efforts to shed light on the incident in all its aspects are being meticulously continued in coordination with the Iranian authorities. In this incident, which has plunged us into deep pain and sorrow, we once again ask God's mercy for our heroic comrade-in-arms, Contracted Infantry Private Yusuf Sait Ünlü, who was martyred; and we offer our condolences and patience to his grieving family, our Turkish Armed Forces, and our noble nation. "

The following assessments were made regarding activities on the Turkey-Iraq border:

"We continue our cooperation with our neighbor Iraq in the field of defense and security. In this context, we welcome Iraq's activities to establish and strengthen outposts and checkpoints along its border lines. In line with the goal of effectively ensuring border security, cleansing the region of terrorism, and establishing an environment of peace, prosperity, and stability, we will continue to provide all kinds of support to our neighbor Iraq. "