Turkey conducts Efes-2016 military exercise with international allies

The Efes-2016 Combined Joint Live Fire Exercises were successfully conducted on May 30 and May 31, with the participation of the armies of Germany, the United States, Azerbaijan, Britain, Qatar, Pakistan, Poland and Saudi Arabia. 

The exercises were conducted in Turkey’s Western Anatolia region, the central part of the Aegean Sea, the Gulf of İzmir and the Doğanbey Live Fire Exercise Area.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım, Defense Minister Fikri Işık and Chief of General Staff Hulusi Akar observed the distinguished observer day exercise on May 31, while the defense ministers, chiefs of staff, and chiefs of land forces of Azerbaijan, the U.S., Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Ukraine, Poland, Japan and Pakistan also observed the joint military drill. 

In total, observers from 79 different countries attended the exercise. 

Two F-15 fighter jets from the Saudi Arabian armed forces and U.S. landing ships took also part in the drill. Howitzers were landed from the sea by these landing ships. 

Drones made reconnaissance flights as part of the exercise, while de-mining vehicles made controlled explosions on land.

The aims of the exercise were declared by the Turkish Armed Forces to be training participating units and staff in planning and conducting combined and joint operations, including logistics and command-control, as well as improving the interoperability between headquarters and forces.