Efes 2012 drill ends

İZMİR - Anatolia News Agency

Chief of General Staff Gen. Necdet Özel praised the military power of Turkey, which “uses its hard and soft power to ensure stability in its region and beyond,” on the last day of a major military exercise.

“If you consider the number and variety of personnel, weapons and vehicles, this is one of the biggest national exercises in the military world,” Özel said yesterday on the last day of the Efes 2012 military exercise held near the Aegean town of Seferihisar. “The armed forces have been performing all national and international missions they were given with dedicated efforts and continue to contribute to world peace.”

The Efes 2012 military exercise, which was conducted by over 8,000 troops, 52 planes, 33 helicopters, 45 vessels, 656 armed vehicles and 40 assault boats, was followed by 31 military attaches from 28 different countries.