Türkiye and TRNC Showcases Resilience with the Martyr Lieutenant Caner Gönyeli-2023 Search and Rescue Invitation Exercise
Türkiye and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) completed a two-day joint military exercise in Northern Cyprus. The Martyr Lieutenant Caner Gönyeli-2023 Search and Rescue Invitation Exercise was conducted with the participation of civilian and military elements from the Search and Rescue Organizations of the Republic of Türkiye and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) between October 23-27, 2023.
The exercise took place in two phases, Land and Sea, in the Girne (Kyrenia/St. Hilarion) region and outside the territorial waters of the TRNC in the Turkish Search and Rescue Region, off the coast of Gazimağusa (Famagusta). The aim of the exercise is to test the mutual coordination and functionality of the Search and Rescue Organizations of the Republic of Türkiye and the TRNC through scenarios that could also occur in real situations. It also aims to improve the capabilities to conduct joint search and rescue operations within a comprehensive scenario with broad participation, as well as to identify and address any potential shortcomings.
The exercise is named in honor of Lieutenant Caner Gönyeli, who lost his life on the TCG Kocatepe (D-354) during the Cyprus Peace Operation on July 21, 1974. Caner Gönyeli was born in Cyprus in 1947. He graduated from the Naval Academy as an Ensign on August 30, 1970, and was promoted to Lieutenant on August 30, 1971. While serving as a supply officer on the TCG Kocatepe (D-354) destroyer, he took part in the Cyprus Peace Operation and was martyred on July 21, 1974. His memory is preserved at the Girne Navy Cemetery. The Turkish Armed Forces Medal of Pride was given to his legal heir.
The land phase of the Martyr Lieutenant Caner Gonyeli-2023 Search and Rescue Invitation Exercise started on October 24 with the participation of civilian and military elements. The press briefing of the exercise was held at the Security Forces Command Headquarters. Speaking at a press briefing, Major General Osman AYTAÇ, Commander of the TRNC’s Security Forces, said search and rescue activities require professional personnel, good organization, close coordination, and cooperation. Stating that the Martyr Lieutenant Caner Gönyeli Search and Rescue Exercise will be held for the 19th time this year, Maj. Gen. AYTAÇ said, “The TRNC is ready to carry out search and rescue operations in all environments, day and night, in territorial waters or international waters, at any time, in unity with elements of its (ancestral) homeland, the Republic of Türkiye.” Major General Osman AYTAÇ noted that the exercise would be conducted in two phases (land and sea) and said, "Search and rescue operations, being directly related to human life, must be carried out in a race against time and between life and death. The TRNC is ready to perform search and rescue operations at any time and place, in territorial or international waters, day and night, in unity of heart and purpose with the elements of its motherland, the Republic of Türkiye." He also added that the TRNC search and rescue teams have carried out 112 search and rescue missions since 2002.
The first phase was successfully carried out on October 24, 2023, with the participation of the Turkish Land Forces Command, Turkish Naval Forces Command, Turkish Air Force Command, Gendarmerie General Command, Turkish Coast Guard Command, TRNC elements, civil institutions, and organizations, as well as observers from seven friendly and allied countries (Azerbaijan, Djibouti, Kosovo, Libya, Pakistan, Philippines, and Qatar).
In the scenario carried out in the Girne (St. Hilarion) region, following the transmission of a distress signal (ELT/PLB) by a passenger plane flying on the İzmir-Ercan route within the TRNC airspace, the ELT/PLB (Emergency Locator Transmitter/Personal Locator Beacon) distress signal was received by the Main Search and Rescue Coordination Center (AAKKM) through SARSAT (Search & Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking). Subsequently, upon notification to the Ercan Air Search and Rescue Coordination Center (HVAKKM), the TRNC Search and Rescue Organization was activated. A Search and Rescue Helicopter and an Ambulance Helicopter were dispatched to the area with suitable Search and Rescue Units (AKBİR) and sufficient medical personnel to commence search and rescue operations. Support was also requested from the Republic of Türkiye's Search and Rescue Organization for the SAR activity.
Upon request, the Search and Rescue Organization of the Republic of Türkiye was activated and dispatched 1x Search and Rescue Aircraft, 2x Search and Rescue Helicopters, 1x Baykar TB2 UAV, and 1x Search and Rescue team to the scene to support the Search and Rescue operation. After the Search and Rescue Aircraft and Helicopters located the crashed plane, Search and Rescue Qualified Personnel (AKİP) were dropped to the incident area with Fast-Roping technique by the SAR helicopter. Following AKİP's reconnaissance of the plane area and the initial treatment of the identified casualties, evacuations were carried out by TRNC Security Forces Command and Gendarmerie General Command helicopters.
Subsequently, SAR Elements arrived at the crash site, and reconnaissance of the area was conducted to ensure a coordinated and appropriate response to the incident by SAR elements. In coordination with the SAR activities, the perimeter security of the crash site was established, and unauthorized individuals attempting to enter the crash site were removed. Firefighting units arriving at the site addressed the aircraft fire by extinguishing and cooling it. SAR elements carried out rescue and evacuation activities within the aircraft and the crash site and medical teams performed emergency treatments for the identified casualties. Afterward, the other rescued passengers were transported to the hospital by ambulances.
After an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) identified a wounded person on the edge of a cliff northwest of the downed plane, the Civil Defense team rescued the casualty using a rope and pulley system, and the casualty was then evacuated by ambulance. Another casualty detected in a forested area by a drone was rescued and evacuated from the area by helicopter. The successful completion of the Land Phase of the Martyr Lieutenant Caner Gönyeli-2023 Search and Rescue Invitation Exercise was observed by the Acting President of the TRNC and Speaker of the Republic's Assembly Zorlu TÖRE, TRNC Foreign Minister Tahsin ERTUĞRULOĞLU, Türkiye's Ambassador to Lefkoşa (Nicosia) Metin FEYZİOĞLU, and Security Forces Commander Major General Osman AYTAÇ, along with military officials.
During the second phase of the exercise conducted off the coast of Famagusta on October 25, 2023, a collision was simulated outside of the TRNC territorial waters and within the Turkish Search and Rescue Region, involving a dry cargo ship with many irregular migrants and a commercial yacht. After the incident, a call for help was made from the ships, and an EPIRB distress signal was emitted. After Turkish Cypriot Radio received the ships' distress calls, the position and condition of the ships were inquired, and the information was shared with the Main Search and Rescue Coordination Center (AAKKM) and the Naval Forces Search and Rescue Coordination Center (DZAKKM). Upon receiving the EPIRB distress signal, DZAKKM assigned the no. IV Assistant Search and Rescue Coordination Center (YAKKM) for the coordination of search and rescue operations.
For the purpose of responding to the incident, the no. IV Assistant Search and Rescue Coordination Center dispatched 2x Coast Guard Corvettes, 4x Coast Guard Boats, 3x Coast Guard Search Helicopters, and 1x Coast Guard Search Aircraft to the area. Upon the dry cargo ship reporting the sinking of the commercial yacht, DZAKKM requested support for search and rescue operations from the Air Forces Command (HVAKKM) and the Gendarmerie General Command. As a result, 1x Helicopter and 1x Gendarmerie SAR Team from the Gendarmerie General Command, 1x Frigate and 1x Bayraktar TB2 UAV from the Naval Forces Command, and 1x SAR Aircraft, 1x SAR Helicopter, and 1x SAR Team from the Air Forces Command were dispatched to the area. Additionally, upon DZAKKM's request, the Security Forces Command dispatched 3x TRNC Coast Guard Boats, 1x SAR Helicopter, 1x Ambulance Helicopter, and 2x Tugboats to the scene. After the Coast Guard Aircraft identified survivors on an inflatable rubber boat, the survivors were rescued by the Coast Guard SAR Helicopter using a Quick Strop and a floating stretcher and were transferred to the Coast Guard SAR Ship for initial treatment. Another group of survivors found in the open sea was rescued by fast rescue boats deployed from the Coast Guard SAR Ship after a Coast Guard Aircraft dropped an inflatable boat and a SAR kit on them and were then transferred to the ship for initial treatment. Additionally, Search and Rescue Qualified Personnel were parachuted into the sea from a Turkish Air Force SAR aircraft and rescued another stranded survivor with the Turkish Air Force SAR Helicopter.
In the final part of the exercise, 2x Coast Guard boats conducted blocking maneuvers to prevent and stop the escape of the dry cargo ship carrying irregular migrants. Following this, the Coast Guard Special Operations (SÖH) Team performed a boarding operation using Fast-roping and gained control of the uncooperative dry cargo ship. When the crew of the ship attempted to start a fire with the intent of not surrendering the ship, both the crew and the irregular migrants were evacuated via a Coast Guard boat. The fire was subsequently extinguished by the Coast Guard SAR Ship and Tugboats.
After successful completion of the second phase of the Martyr Lieutenant Caner Gönyeli-2023 Search and Rescue Invitation Exercise TRNC Vice President and Parliament Speaker Zorlu TÖRE addressed the press on board the TCSG YAŞAM vessel. TÖRE said the exercise was carried out successfully, and "our security units, police force and heroic army are always ready, both in war and peace." At the press briefing Turkish Coast Guard Commander Rear Admiral (Upper Half) Ahmet KENDİR said Türkiye will continue with its efforts to support the TRNC and increase mutual cooperation. "The exercise carried out today by our search and rescue elements, which can successfully perform their duties 24 hours a day, seven days a week, is an indicator of our reaction speed and the effectiveness of our search and rescue organization in case of accidents that may occur in the surrounding seas." As many as 13 military representatives from six countries – Azerbaijan, Djibouti, Kosovo, Libya, Pakistan, and Qatar – attended the second phase of the exercise as observers
