Turkish army clears mines near Iraq border to enable civilian return

In the southeastern province of Hakkari, Turkish Special Mine Search and Clearance (ÖMAT) units are clearing land near the Iraq border that was evacuated in 1995 because of terrorism. Operating around the villages of Kurudere, Kavuşak and Işıklı, the teams from the 2nd Army Engineer Brigade use advanced detection gear, mine-search dogs and strict safety protocols to locate and destroy mines and unexploded ordnance. The operation is coordinated with the National Mine Action Center and follows Turkey’s 2011 prohibition on antipersonnel mines and its 2015 border-clearance agency.

Engineers receive briefings on terrain and weather before each sortie, while emergency medical crews remain on standby. The cleared zones are intended for future civilian use, including farming and housing, as security measures such as a new concrete wall and deep trench system along the border are already in place.