Operation Tigris Hammer

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OPERATION TIGRIS HAMMER
Security Classification: TOP SECRET

SITUATION REPORT

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OVERVIEW Following the completion of Tigris Shield's and continued PKK terror attacks in Izmir and Ankara, the Prime Minister has authorized the ground component of the campaign against PKK infrastructure and personnel in Iraqi Kurdistan, designated Tigris Hammer. The operation proceeds under the same right of self-defense against imminent and ongoing harm invoked for Tigris Shield, updated to reflect findings from the Izmir investigation and subsequent cross-border intelligence operations against PKK bombmaking and logistics networks. Tigris Hammer commits three divisions, 19,000 personnel, supported by 6,000 corps troops (artillery, engineer, military police, and Gendarmerie special operations elements) along three axes of advance into the Duhok pocket and the Bahdinan and Zap approaches. The operation is composed of three subordinate campaigns: Tigris Saber, the initial ground advance intended to draw PKK elements toward a defensible perimeter; Tigris Storm, the airborne envelopment severing PKK reinforcement routes into Duhok; and Tigris Scale, the sustained mountain clearance of the Ari–Choman corridor. Objectives are aimed at the degradation of the PKK's operational infrastructure and the denial of sanctuary. Operations will focus on smaller towns, transit corridors, and open terrain where TSK armor, air, and mobility advantages are decisive rather than a liability. Execution is contingent on completion of diplomatic consultations with allied governments. Joint Task Force Iraq (JTF-I) will hold forces at final readiness pending execution order.

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BELLIGERENTS

BLUFOR	OPFOR
Republic of Türkiye	Kurdistan Worker's Party HPG YJA-STAR Iraq (Nominal — no effective operational control in AO) Socialist Republic of Thailand (Alleged Support)[1]

Joint Task Force Iraq (JTF-I) Lt. Gen. Batu Celal, Commanding Maj. Gen. Ercan Akinci, Deputy Commander	HPG Theater Command Murat Karayılan Duran Kalkan Bahoz Erdal
3rd "Gergedan" Combined Arms Armored Division 11th Armored Regiment 1st Tank Battalion 2nd Tank Battalion 11th Armored Reconnaissance Battalion 20th Mechanized Rifle Regiment 1st Mechanized Rifle Battalion 2nd Mechanized Rifle Battalion 3rd Mechanized Rifle Battalion 22nd Mechanized Rifle Regiment 1st Mechanized Rifle Battalion 2nd Mechanized Rifle Battalion 3rd Mechanized Rifle Battalion 41st Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment 8th Combat Engineer Battalion (attached) 5th Reconnaissance Battalion	Bahdinan Front 1st Tabur "Mala Arab" 2nd Tabur "Zakho" 3rd Tabur "Qadish" YJA-STAR Bahdinan Company Front logistics & courier network
5th "Kartal" Airborne Division 1st Airborne Regiment 1st Airborne Battalion 2nd Airborne Battalion 3rd Airborne Battalion 2nd Air Assault Regiment 1st Air Assault Battalion 2nd Air Assault Battalion 3rd Air Assault Battalion 3rd Air Assault Regiment 1st Air Assault Battalion 2nd Air Assault Battalion 3rd Air Assault Battalion 15th Special Reconnaissance Battalion 5th Airborne Engineer Battalion 11th Airborne Fire Support Battalion	Zap Front 1st Tabur "Namrik" 2nd Tabur "Mrebah" 3rd Tabur "Bakrman-Baurki" YJA-STAR Zap Company
10th Mountain Division 31st Mountain Rifle Regiment 1st Mountain Rifle Battalion 2nd Mountain Rifle Battalion 3rd Mountain Rifle Battalion 32nd Mountain Rifle Regiment 1st Mountain Rifle Battalion 2nd Mountain Rifle Battalion 3rd Mountain Rifle Battalion 33rd Mountain Rifle Regiment 1st Mountain Rifle Battalion 2nd Mountain Rifle Battalion 3rd Mountain Rifle Battalion 61st Mountain Reconnaissance Battalion 16th Mountain Artillery Battalion 10th Combat Engineer Battalion (partial)	Gare–Qandil Front 1st Tabur "Ari" 2nd Tabur "Choman" Qandil Reserve/Training Tabur YJA-STAR Gare Company

CONFIDENTIAL MISSION OPERATION GİZLİLİKLE GÖREV OPERASYONU​ This document is classified and intended solely for official use within the Turkish Armed Forces. It contains sensitive operational details and is not to be viewed, shared, or disseminated outside of authorized personnel. Unauthorized access or distribution of this document is strictly prohibited. Please ensure the return of this document to the Turkish General Staff Building, located at Bakanlıklar, Çankaya, Ankara.

SECRET Operation Parameters​ Mission Planning: Objective Definition: Sever PKK reinforcement and resupply routes into the Duhok pocket; secure the Zakho–Mala Arab–Qadish corridor and the crossings toward Erbil, Mosul, and Sulaimaniyah; conduct sustained clearance of fixed PKK infrastructure in the Ari–Choman corridor. Area of Operations: Duhok Governorate and adjoining Erbil Governorate approaches. Peshmerga-garrisoned routes are deconflicted via a standing channel with the Kurdistan Regional Government and are not to be entered absent separate authorization. Pre-Mission Preparation Force Generation: 3rd CAAD, 5th Airborne, and 10th Mountain at full readiness. Corps troops staged at forward marshalling areas along the border. Follow-on mechanized brigade held at Land Forces Command reserve, uncommitted. Detainee Handling Gendarmerie Officers' elements, attached to each division, conduct initial screening at forward collection points, separated from combat units. Personnel held past initial screening were transferred to a facility inside Turkish territory within 72 hours. Personnel of intelligence value transferred to MIT custody under Justice Ministry-approved interrogation standards.

END OF DOCUMENT BELGENİN SONU​

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CAMPAIGN REGISTER

Phase	Description	Status
Tigris Saber – Phase I: Border Crossing & Approach 3rd CAAD, Ibrahim Khalil to Mala Arab	3rd "Gergedan" Combined Arms Armored Division crosses at Ibrahim Khalil and advances through Zakho, Dar Huzan, and Hezawa. Limited resistance is expected through these towns; PKK forces are assessed to fall back on Mala Arab and commit to its defense. Division secures Mala Arab to conclude Phase I. Kirpi-led route clearance and engineer bridging are prioritized across the Dar Huzan wadis.	AUTHORIZED – AWAITING EXECUTE ORDER
Tigris Saber – Phase II: Advance to Qadish 3rd CAAD, Batifa to Qadish	Following consolidation at Mala Arab, 3rd CAAD reorganizes and advances from Batifa to Bamerne, continuing to Qadish. Terrain and road quality degrade along this axis; close air support constrained by ridgeline masking. Phase contingent on Tigris Storm securing the division's northern flank prior to commitment past Batifa.	AUTHORIZED – AWAITING EXECUTE ORDER
Tigris Storm: Airborne Envelopment 5th Airborne, Bahadre Mountain Pass – four-point insertion	5th "Kartal" Airborne Division air-assaults into Bahadre Mountain Pass and splits into four elements: westward to Namrik, eastward to Mrebah, with additional detachments assaulting Bakrman and Baurki. Objective is to sever all routes by which PKK elements north of Duhok could reinforce Batifa, isolating Duhok and protecting 3rd CAAD's Phase II advance. Executes concurrent with the final 48 hours of Phase I. T129 ATAK conducts preparatory fires on landing zones ahead of troop-carrying serials.	AUTHORIZED – AWAITING EXECUTE ORDER
Tigris Scale: Mountain Clearance 10th Mountain, Beduhe to Ari / Choman	10th Mountain Division crosses at Beduhe and advances through Kani Masi and Bere Sile, turning east through Resava and Gunde Site to Dore, where the division splits into two assault groups — one toward Ari, one toward Choman — for sustained clearance of fixed PKK infrastructure. Longest phase of the operation; terrain favors ambush and mine warfare over maneuver. Weather window over the Choman passes assessed at six to eight weeks from execution before closure.	AUTHORIZED – AWAITING EXECUTE ORDER