Türkiye leads multinational cave warfare drill in Izmir under EFES-2026 drills Photo

The Turkish Armed Forces have completed training drills in western Türkiye focused on locating and clearing caves, shelters, and tunnel systems as part of the international EFES-2026 military exercise.

The drills, held at a training area in Izmir, were conducted under the framework of the “Joint Combined Live-Fire and Field Training” segment of EFES-2026. A total of 93 military personnel from nine countries participated, including Azerbaijan, Albania, Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Romania, Mongolia, Somalia, North Macedonia, and Syria, Caliber.Az reports per Turkish media.

According to the exercise scenario, reconnaissance units used drones to identify a suspected “terrorist” position inside a cave. The area was then secured and placed under control before follow-on units were deployed.

Subsequent phases involved search operations, casualty evacuation, and mine clearance teams entering the cave system. The Turkish-made mine detector OZAN, developed by TÜBİTAK BİLGEM, was used alongside military working dogs.

After the entrance was cleared using smoke and stun grenades, simulated targets were neutralised and the area secured. In the final stage, underground structures and cave systems were rendered inoperable in line with the exercise scenario.

By Sabina Mammadli