Joint Exercises Between TRNC and Turkey Held Off the Coast of Famagusta

The Lieutenant Martyr Caner Gönyeli - 2024 Search and Rescue Exercises were successfully completed in Northern Cyprus. The maritime phase of the maneuvers took place off the coast of Famagusta, involving both civilian and military forces from Turkey and the TRNC Search and Rescue Organization.

The exercises, conducted in the Eastern Mediterranean, within the airspace of the TRNC, its territorial waters and mainland areas, as well as in international waters within Turkey's search and rescue zone, were based on three different scenarios.

According to the exercise scenarios, rescuers practiced responses to a passenger plane crash, rescued immigrants who fell into the sea following a collision between a cargo ship and a commercial yacht, and extinguished a fire on a cargo ship. All stages of rescuing the victims were successfully executed.

In the practical phase of the exercises, Turkey deployed a frigate, an unmanned aerial vehicle, three coast guard corvettes, four coast guard boats, five helicopters, two airplanes, a search and rescue team, a special operations team, and a diving safety and security group. The TRNC participated with three coast guard boats, two helicopters, two tugs, two boats, and one search and rescue team.

The exercises were observed by Turkey's ambassador to Nicosia, Metin Feyzioğlu, Commander of the Security Forces Major General Osman Aytaç, and other officials and military personnel.