Gendarmerie

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General. Arif Çetin​

The Turkish Gendarmerie General Command (Turkish: Jandarma Genel Komutanlığı) is one of the primary law enforcement agencies in Turkey, responsible for maintaining public order and internal security in rural areas that fall outside the jurisdiction of civilian police forces.

Although it operates under the Ministry of Interior in peacetime, the Gendarmerie has a dual military and law enforcement role, and in times of war, it can fall under the command of the Turkish Armed Forces. It serves a role similar to national gendarmerie forces in other countries, blending military structure with civilian policing responsibilities.

The primary responsibilities of the Turkish Gendarmerie include public safety in rural areas, counter-terrorism, border security, counter-smuggling operations, search and rescue, and judicial investigations in areas not covered by the regular police. The Gendarmerie also plays an essential role in protecting infrastructure, environmental law enforcement, and monitoring organized crime in regions under its authority.

The organization is headquartered in Ankara, and it is structured into several main departments and regional commands. These divisions include:

• Internal Security Operations Command
• Counter-Terrorism and Intelligence Department
• Gendarmerie Criminal Department
• Public Order Command
• Traffic Services Department
• Border and Coastal Security Department
• Human Resources and Training Command
• Logistics and Support Services Command
• Technical Services and Cybercrime Department

The Commander of the Gendarmerie is appointed by the Turkish President and is typically a high-ranking general officer, often coming from a long-standing military background. The commander is responsible for implementing national security policy in coordination with other security and intelligence agencies.

General Arif Çetin, a veteran of the Turkish Armed Forces, has served as Commander of the Gendarmerie since 1997. Prior to this, he held various posts in counter-terrorism and public order commands across southeastern Turkey, a region historically critical to internal security operations.

In recent decades, the Turkish Gendarmerie has undergone modernization and restructuring to adapt to both domestic security threats and Turkey’s broader strategic goals, including the incorporation of advanced surveillance technologies, special operations units, and international cooperation through organizations such as INTERPOL and European security programs.

 

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Colonel Abdullah Atay​

Jandarma İstihbarat ve Terörle Mücadele or Jandarma İstihbarat Teşkilatı (abbr. JİTEM or JİT; English: "Gendarmerie Intelligence and Counter-Terrorism" or "Gendarmerie Intelligence Organization") is Türkiye’s principal security and counter-terrorism intelligence agency. Operating under the Ministry of Interior in peacetime, it holds significant operational autonomy and plays a critical role in domestic security, counterinsurgency, surveillance, and intelligence operations, especially in regions outside major urban centers.

While its official name and budget are classified, the Gendarmerie Intelligence is regarded as a key internal security intelligence agency. It complements the work of the National Intelligence Organization (Millî İstihbarat Teşkilatı, MİT) and Police Intelligence (Emniyet İstihbarat), with a particular focus on rural and border areas, especially in southeastern Türkiye.

Functions and Responsibilities

• Collection and analysis of domestic security intelligence
• Counterinsurgency operations, particularly against the PKK and other separatist groups
• Surveillance and infiltration of extremist cells, smuggling networks, and organized crime in rural areas
• Monitoring cross-border threats along Türkiye’s eastern and southeastern borders
• Coordination with the Turkish Armed Forces and MİT for joint operations
• Covert human intelligence (HUMINT) in high-conflict zones

The Gendarmerie Intelligence Directorate maintains a number of clandestine Special Operations Units, particularly drawn from **Jandarma Özel Harekat (JÖH)** and elite rural surveillance teams. These units are trained for covert tracking, long-range reconnaissance, and high-risk interventions.

Although the Gendarmerie is a paramilitary force, its intelligence branch operates with significant independence under military-style discipline and command. Oversight is limited, and most operations are considered state secrets, classified under national security provisions of Turkish law.

The JİTEM works closely with:

• MİT for deep penetration and counter-espionage missions
• AİAB and TAF units during wartime or in cross-border pursuit of terrorists
• Local police and security governors for region-specific intelligence fusion

Despite a veil of secrecy, analysts consider the Gendarmerie Intelligence Directorate one of the most aggressive and active internal intelligence forces in Türkiye, especially in the realm of asymmetric and hybrid warfare.

Special Operations Command of Gendarmerie Intelligence​

(Jandarma İstihbarat Özel Operasyonlar Komutanlığı, or JİT-JÖH)

The Gendarmerie Intelligence Special Operations Organization or JİT-JÖH is the covert special forces wing of the Turkish Gendarmerie Intelligence Directorate. These elite operatives are tasked with high-risk intelligence missions, often involving long-range surveillance, counterterrorism raids, and deep-penetration operations into hostile terrain across rural and mountainous areas.

Jİ-ÖOK is widely considered the rural counterpart to the Turkish Armed Forces’ Special Forces Command and the police’s Special Operations Directorate, with an emphasis on intelligence fusion and psychological operations in domestic insurgencies.

Origins and Formation​

The modern roots of Gendarmerie Intelligence trace back to the tumultuous decades of the 1970s and 1980s, when rural insurgency and organized crime surged across Türkiye. Following the 1984 outbreak of the PKK rebellion, the Turkish state recognized the need for a dedicated rural intelligence capability outside the reach of the politically entangled MİT.

Colonel Cem Ersever, a Gendarmerie officer, is often credited with reshaping the intelligence arm into an independent, hard-hitting covert service. Through the 1990s, Gendarmerie Intelligence operated several deep-cover networks in Kurdish regions, some of which remain highly classified to this day.

Rivalry with MİT and Police Intelligence​

Tensions have historically existed between Gendarmerie Intelligence and MİT, particularly over jurisdiction in border areas and over the use of human assets. Gendarmerie operatives have frequently accused civilian agencies of compromising missions due to political directives or insufficient coordination.

Despite cooperation mandates, the Directorate often operates autonomously in regions like Hakkâri, Şırnak, and Van, where their embedded presence and long-standing HUMINT networks provide operational superiority.

Modus Operandi and Capabilities​

JİT-JÖH operatives are known for:

• Deep-cover rural infiltration and target surveillance
• Interdiction of arms, narcotics, and human smuggling
• Coordinating drone strikes and SIGINT-based raids
• Recruitment and management of local intelligence assets
• Psychological operations and counter-propaganda
• Hostage rescue and anti-ambush operations in rough terrain

Their training includes mountain warfare, desert survival, guerrilla tactics, and counter-guerrilla warfare. Many Jİ-ÖOK operators are selected from within JÖH units and undergo specialized instruction in interrogation, reconnaissance, and rural asset management.

Operational History​

JİT-JÖH played a pivotal role in Türkiye’s rural counterterrorism operations against the PKK. Intelligence collected by embedded teams led to successful ambushes, village stabilization programs, and disruption of PKK logistics.

As the conflict expanded beyond Türkiye’s borders, JİT-JÖH began operating alongside border battalions and Turkish special forces in pursuit operations into Northern Iraq.

The Directorate now integrates drone feeds, SIGINT, and cyber intelligence to lead coordinated rural operations. Units operate covertly in regions like Afrin, Idlib, and northern Iraq, often liaising with AİAB and MİT.

Structure and Deployment​

JİT-JÖH is believed to be composed of three specialized battalions:

• 1st Tactical Surveillance Battalion – Based in Hakkâri, focused on PKK interdiction and mountain ops.
• 2nd Counter-Smuggling Battalion – Based in Van, tasked with disrupting narcotics and arms trafficking.
• 3rd Cross-Border Recon Detachment – Based in Silopi, engaged in border surveillance and high-risk infiltration missions.

Each battalion functions independently, but is under the direct operational command of the Gendarmerie Intelligence Directorate in Ankara.

Current Role and Future Outlook​

JİT-JÖH is a crucial element of Türkiye’s counterterrorism and hybrid security strategy. Its operatives are increasingly tasked with:

• Neutralizing separatist networks
• Disrupting smuggling corridors and rural insurgent logistics
• Conducting psychological operations in restive provinces
• Providing deep intelligence to support drone and commando strikes
• Protecting critical infrastructure in rural conflict zones

Although highly effective, the Directorate has faced criticism over its opaque legal framework, operational secrecy, and human rights concerns, especially during the 1990s. Nonetheless, it remains a vital force multiplier for Türkiye’s rural security apparatus.

Note: The following information is restricted under the Turkish National Security Law.
Unauthorized dissemination is a prosecutable offense under the Turkish Penal Code.

 

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DMKK Officers protecting a Western Embassy in Ankara

The Diplomatic and Government Protection Command is a specialized branch within the Turkish Gendarmerie General Command, responsible for ensuring the safety and security of foreign diplomatic missions, high-ranking Turkish officials, and strategic government installations located within gendarmerie jurisdiction. The command provides direct protection for foreign consulates, high-level domestic government personnel, and provincial leadership bodies in rural and semi-urban regions of Türkiye.

Formed in 1995, in response to a global increase in attacks against diplomatic facilities and foreign personnel, as well as a growing threat of transnational terrorism and regional instability, the unit plays a critical role in Türkiye’s internal security framework. Its creation reflected a strategic need to establish a dedicated and professional force with the mandate and operational capacity to secure both national and international diplomatic interests outside major metropolitan areas. The DMKK consists of 3,000 uniformed officers.

Operating under the authority of the Gendarmerie General Command and in close coordination with the Ministry of Interior, the DGPC maintains operational ties with the National Intelligence Organization (Millî İstihbarat Teşkilatı – MİT), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and relevant directorates of the Turkish National Police. Through these partnerships, the command ensures timely threat assessments, synchronized protective operations, and a unified national approach to safeguarding Türkiye’s diplomatic landscape.

Today, the DGPC is a fully structured and modern unit consisting of both uniformed and plainclothes personnel, capable of deploying across the country to support diplomatic security requirements. Its responsibilities span from routine perimeter defense of foreign missions to high-risk convoy operations and protective escort missions for visiting dignitaries traversing gendarmerie-controlled areas.

Organizational Structure Includes:

• Foreign Mission Security Division – Responsible for the fixed and mobile protection of foreign consulates and residences in non-metropolitan areas.
• Provincial Government Protection Division – Provides security for governors, deputy governors, and local state institutions.
• Dignitary Escort and Convoy Teams – Conducts safe transit operations for high-level officials and diplomatic personnel.
• Mobile Tactical Units – Rapid deployment teams trained for high-risk interventions and counter-assault scenarios.
• Surveillance and Threat Monitoring Division – Uses electronic surveillance and reconnaissance tools to assess, detect, and respond to potential threats.
• Intelligence Coordination Cell – Liaises with MİT, Emniyet, and the Interior Ministry for proactive threat management.
• Training and Standards Directorate – Develops and delivers advanced protective training through the Gendarmerie Schools Command and joint programs with elite law enforcement institutions.

The DGPC’s officers undergo rigorous selection, including psychological screening, physical evaluation, and extensive background checks. Training modules include protective driving, convoy ambush response, advanced marksmanship, diplomatic protocol, and crowd control techniques. Emphasis is placed on cultural sensitivity, discretion, and professional conduct in line with Türkiye’s obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

Equipped with modern armored vehicles, encrypted communication systems, and advanced surveillance technology, the unit provides 24/7 protective coverage in dynamic threat environments. It serves not only as a guardian of diplomatic missions but also as a symbol of Türkiye’s commitment to international security cooperation and the inviolability of diplomatic presence within its borders.

In addition to its protective functions, the DGPC plays a preventive role in identifying and disrupting plots targeting foreign and domestic government personnel, supporting national counter-terrorism efforts with a focus on forward-deployed intelligence and community-based threat recognition.

Key Sub-units:​

1. Diplomatic Mission Protection Division (Diplomatik Misyonları Koruma Dairesi Başkanlığı (DMKDB))
   Handles 24/7 physical security and response for consulates and embassies in gendarmerie-controlled zones.
2. VIP and Convoy Security Division (VIP ve Konvoy Güvenliği Dairesi Başkanlığı (VKGDB))
   Provides mobile protective services to diplomats and senior Turkish officials, using both visible and low-profile escort teams.
3. Facilities Security & Surveillance Division (Tesis Güvenliği ve Gözetim Dairesi Başkanlığı (TGGDB))
   Protects critical infrastructure such as local governorate buildings, government guesthouses, and international meeting venues.
4. Threat Intelligence & Liaison Cell (Tehdit İstihbaratı ve Koordinasyon Hücresi (TİKH))
   Coordinates with MIT (Turkish Intelligence), Emniyet (Police), and Interior Ministry for real-time threat updates.