Turkish defense minister criticized after the earthquake: “Should we get out of Syria or Iraq?”

Turkish Defense Minister, Hulusi Akar, expressed incomprehension at the ongoing criticism of the management of the devastating February 6 earthquake in the Turkish newspaper Hürriyet. In the first few hours after the earthquake, calls for help from the Turkish army became louder on social media and among many of those affected. In fact, in the first few days after the earthquake, there were hardly any soldiers or auxiliary troops from the Turkish army in the earthquake area.

With at least 525,000 active soldiers and 380,000 reservists, the Turkish army is one of the largest armies in the world. Alone 120,000 active soldiers are deployed in the earthquake region near Malatya in the ‘2. Army’.

Regarding the harsh criticism, the former chief of the Turkish general staff, Akar, stated that 40,000 soldiers from all over Turkey had been returned due to the earthquake disaster and that everything possible had been done. Finally, he said to the critics: “Knocking with slogans from afar doesn’t work. Who will guard the border, and who should stay in Syria? Should we empty Syria or Iraq? The intention of the blind ones who don’t want to see and the deaf who don’t want to hear is something else, our problem is another”.

Many activists expressed their dissatisfaction with the statements of the Turkish Defense Minister, as they said that the government continues to occupy other countries and refuses to withdraw those soldiers to help the afflicted inside Turkey.