Turkey conducts Efes-2016 military exercises

The Turkish Armed Forces are conducting the Efes-2016 Combined Joint Live Fire Exercises in the Western Anatolia region 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, Hurriyet Daily reports.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım, the Defense Minister Fikri Işık and the Chief of General Staff Hulusi Akar observed the exercises on May 31. In total, observers from 79 different countries attended the exercise. 

Two F-15 fighter jets from the Saudi Arabian armed forces and US 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.