Agencies – Turkey will hold joint military exercises with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), the Defense Ministry said Saturday.
The drill, called “Martyr Capt. Cengiz Topel Mediterranean Storm 2020,” will last for five days between Sept. 6-10, the statement said.
The ministry said that the annual exercise is aimed at improving mutual training, cooperation, and interoperability between the Turkish Cypriot Peace Force Command and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Security Forces Command.
The exercise will be held with air, naval, and land elements from Turkey, the statement added.
The drill was named after Turkish pilot and officer Cengiz Topel, who was born on September 3, 1934. In 1964, during a warning flight of the Turkish Armed Forces in Cyprus, the Greeks hit the plane by a missile. He parachuted, but was tortured to death. Topel’s body was handed over in August 1964 at the insistence of Turkey. He is the first missing pilot of the Turkish Air Force.
