Turkey inspects Iran border

Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, alongside military commanders, conducted on-site inspections of measures taken on the Iranian border over the weekend following concerns of a new refugee wave.

“Every day, more than 150 ambush and reconnaissance activities are carried out. We are operating with more than 1,000 reconnaissance tools, including thermal night vision devices,” Akar stated on Sunday.

Speaking on the increase of Afghan refugees, Akar said border control measures have increased significantly. “On the first line, there is border security, land forces, and in the deeper area gendarmerie forces, while the inner line includes police special forces. Therefore, we have once again observed that the footage being shared does not reflect reality.”

Akar, Chief of General Staff Gen. Yaşar Güler, and Land Forces commander Gen. Musa Avsever were welcomed at Van Ferit Melen Airport on Saturday.

They visited the Kocaçukur Tepe observation post at an altitude of 2,618 meters (8,589 feet). Soldiers at the post told Akar: “Neither terrorists nor illegal immigrants can enter our country while we are here.”

The defense minister and the commanders later visited the Hangedik Base Area at an altitude of 2,430 meters to continue their inspections in the region.