Three UAVs fell from the sky!..

When the Syrian branch of the separatist terrorist organization carried out an attack in Afrin on April 7, 2021, using a mini kamikaze drone and a guided anti-tank missile, the Center for Economics and Foreign Policy Studies (EDAM) made the following assessments and warnings:

- “With the Syrian civil war, the PKK/YPG terrorist organization is evolving from a categorically low-intensity conflict profile into a capacity with increasingly hybrid capabilities. This trend is highly concerning for Turkey’s national security.”

- “The open-source intelligence data we have indicates that the terrorist organization used a guided anti-tank missile in the attack. Furthermore, there are indications that a mini kamikaze drone was used in the attack. Weapons and platforms in the specified category have been used by the PKK/YPG many times before.”

- “The interest of the PKK/YPG terrorist organization in unmanned aerial vehicles should also be monitored carefully. Although we are not yet talking about a terrorist drone program, our studies show that the terrorist organization is increasingly using higher-segment platforms and turning toward sophisticated attacks.”

- “We assess that the most serious precaution to be taken is to properly analyze hybrid trends in terrorist attacks in Syria and to accurately predict the asymmetric threat environment that Turkish security forces will face in the coming period.”

Exactly 2 years later, in 2023, we read a report sourced from the Washington Post that even the Anadolu Agency published.

The report noted that leaked US Department of Defense documents contained information that “Ukrainian military intelligence officers planned to train PKK/YPG terrorists in northern Syria to carry out attacks against Russia to avoid any connection with the government in a potential attack planned against Russia,” and that “the plans also included UAV attacks on Russian Wagner forces,” but that Ukrainian President Zelensky suspended the plan for the following reasons:

“Logistical difficulties such as the issue of border control between Kurds and establishing an operations center... Ukraine’s limited drone supply... Doubts about whether the attacks would be successful... The possibility of US pressure.”

Is There No Other Possibility?

As is known; first, on December 15, an unidentified UAV reached as far as Ankara and was shot down just as it was about to access locations housing highly strategic targets such as ROKETSAN, ASELSAN, TUSAŞ, and HAVELSAN...

On December 19, it was announced that a UAV had crashed in a rural area in İzmit this time. The Ministry of Interior announced that the UAV belonged to the Russians...

One day later, it was reported that a UAV had crashed into an empty field in Manyas, Balıkesir. Fortunately, our Ministry of Defense stated that the footage related to this was from 10 days prior, so we were relieved!..

Officials did not open their mouths for two days regarding the UAV that came to the doorstep of Ankara and strategic defense centers on December 15.

Only on December 17, in a speech he gave due to the Ambassadors Conference, Erdoğan said: “By meticulously implementing the Montreux Straits Convention, we prevented the war from spreading to the Black Sea. However, the mutual attacks carried out in recent days seriously threaten navigation safety in the Black Sea. Targeting merchant ships and civilian vessels does not benefit anyone. We are clearly conveying our warnings to both sides on this matter.”

One day later, the Ministry of National Defense (MSB) made a statement. In the statement, it was explained how successful the operation to destroy the UAV was and that there was no vulnerability in our air defense system, emphasizing that “it breaking into very small pieces and spreading over a wide area made wreckage identification difficult,” and finally, the following was recorded:

“In addition to all this; our counterparts have been warned to be more careful regarding such negative developments concerning the security of the Black Sea due to the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia.”

In summary; it is a situation like, “The UAV may or may not belong to Ukraine or Russia; but we warned them in advance”!..

After 10 days have passed, let us now look at the statement made by the MSB yesterday.

It was stated again that a successful operation was carried out, that there was no vulnerability in our air defense system, that the wreckage of the UAV shot down on December 15 had not yet been reached, and that the UAVs in Kocaeli and Balıkesir were being examined, with the results of the examination to be shared with the public, and it was said:

“Small, low-altitude, and low-radar cross-section UAVs are a new generation threat faced by all states, including European countries, not just Turkey. In intervening against such targets, civil air traffic and life safety are prioritized, and the most appropriate element is deployed... As a result; the incidents in question are a reflection of the increased use of UAVs due to the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia, rather than an air defense vulnerability. Turkey is taking additional measures against UAVs, continuously improving its air defense capacity with national projects and allied integrations, and continues to ensure the security of its airspace with determination.”

It is understood that Ankara continues to view what is happening as reflections of the Ukraine-Russia war.

Yet, one day before this statement, the Barzani media announced that the US had increased its shipments to military bases in the east of the Euphrates, which are under PKK/PYD control, and that 4 cargo planes carrying “air defense systems, missile platforms, heavy weapons, ammunition, and technical logistical materials” had landed in the region in the last 24 hours.

How can one not remember what Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler said following the martyrdom of Infantry Specialist Corporal Berat Mecit Day in the attack carried out by the PKK in the Claw-Lock operation zone on April 22:

“By the way, they threw a drone yesterday, and the drone came and hit our Mehmetçik (Turkish soldier), and we took him to the hospital, but we could not save him; he was martyred. May God have mercy on him.”

Even though Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan himself announced that the PKK/YPG, appearing as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), “carries out certain activities in coordination with Israel,” it is interesting that for some reason, no one thinks of the PKK/Israel in these UAV matters!..

Yet, everyone knows that the PKK has plenty of drones/UAVs. Also, the armed attack carried out by terrorists on TUSAŞ in Kahramankazan, Ankara, on October 23, 2024, should not be forgotten.

The Terrorist Leader’s May Notes

We are coming to this point:

28 pages of notes, reported to belong to a meeting the terrorist leader in İmralı held with some individuals last May, were published.

While the DEM Party stated that these notes “do not reflect the truth,” it argued that they were “manipulated without establishing a connection to their original states, that additions were made to their contents, and that expressions directed at certain personalities were attached.” In other words, while the existence of the notes was acknowledged, it was claimed that “there were deficiencies and errors.”

Whether it is within those “deficiencies and errors” is unknown; but the following dialogue takes place in the notes:

Terrorist leader: “You say there was an attack. The movement probably has preparations. They are doing their self-defense, right?”

Our delegation: “According to what the movement stated, they have shot down more than 20 reconnaissance aircraft to date. Akıncı, SIHA, etc... They don’t reflect these in the press much.”

Terrorist leader: “Is that so? Are they developing them themselves?”

Our delegation: “They state that they are developing them with their own means. They have very intelligent young people. The relevant people say, ‘We are in fourth place in the region in using artificial intelligence.’ We think they are getting some support.”

Terrorist leader: “(Laughing and looking at the official) Yes, it is clear that they are preparing the PKK. They have also prepared Turkey. This is what I am saying. If you win, it is a Pyrrhic victory; if they win, it is a Pyrrhic victory. What remains is the Gaza situation.”

What we are saying is; while this UAV business is being discussed and investigated, keep in mind what the US-Israel-backed PKK/YPG/PYD has in its possession, and do not ignore it for the sake of the 'opening' process!..

Müyesser YILDIZ

December 26, 2025