In the Çatak district of Van, gendarmerie teams are fighting against terrorism in difficult terrain and harsh winter conditions, where the snow depth reaches 3 meters. Special operations and commando teams affiliated with the Provincial Gendarmerie Command continue their fight against terrorism in the Belbuka Base Area.
Gendarmerie commandos take control of areas used by terrorists as winter base areas in deep valleys, steep mountains and snow-covered lands. Using technological means, the teams monitor their areas of responsibility with equipment such as unmanned aerial vehicles and thermal cameras. Teams patrolling with snowmobiles and tracked vehicles are destroying the living quarters of terrorists in the Karataş Pits and seizing weapons/ammunition.
Provincial Gendarmerie Command Anti-Terrorism Branch Manager Gendarmerie Lieutenant Colonel Ümit Tuaç states that operations in the region continue with the "search, find, destroy" strategy. During the operations carried out last year, 6 terrorists were neutralized and a large number of weapons/ammunition were seized.
Oil Exploration Activities Continue Safely
Reminding that a temporary base area was established in the Karataş Pits region, which is 6 kilometers away from the base area and cleared of terrorism with successful operations, Tuaç said:
“By ensuring full territorial domination in the region through base areas, terrorist activities are prevented and the company, which continues its oil exploration and exploitation activities in the region, is aimed to operate effectively and safely, contributing to the country's economy, as in the example of Mount Gabar. In 2023, 3 thousand 14 operations were successfully carried out with the participation of 3 thousand 190 teams, including 6 large, 979 medium and 3 thousand 207 small teams. In the operations carried out in Van in 2023, 26 infantry rifles, 4 sniper rifles, 1 machine gun, 2 pistols, 42 hand grenades, 11 radios, 13 binoculars, 571 tubes, 33 rocket launcher ammunition, 6 anti-personnel mines and 4 anti-tank mines. mine was seized. "Van Provincial Gendarmerie Command is determined and determined to be successful in the fight against terrorism, primarily in ensuring the continuity of safety, security and public order, by making maximum use of intelligence-based and technological devices, in coordination with the relevant authorities, as it has been until today."