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Türkiye's Defence Ministry: Soldier Yusuf Sait Ünlü killed by fire believed from Iran
Türkiye's Ministry of National Defence said Infantry Contracted Private Yusuf Sait Ünlü, who was killed on October 31 in the area of responsibility of the Engin Mine Border Post in Hakkari, died as a result of fire believed to have come from Iran. Turkish and Iranian authorities have separately launched judicial and administrative investigations to clarify the incident.
Türkiye's Ministry of National Defence (MSB) provided new information about Infantry Contracted Private Yusuf Sait Ünlü, who was killed on October 31 in Hakkari's Yüksekova district. In its response to questions from journalists after the ministry's weekly press briefing on November 5, the ministry said Ünlü was killed by fire believed to have come from Iran while responding to an attempted illegal crossing on the Türkiye-Iran border.
In its initial statement on October 31, the ministry said Ünlü had been wounded by gunfire while responding to a border-crossing incident in the area of responsibility of the 7th Border Brigade Command and had been taken by helicopter to Hakkari State Hospital, but could not be saved despite all medical efforts. No information was provided that day about who had opened fire. The Türkiye Times reported Ünlü's death in the line of duty the same day.
“We met with Iranian officials at the scene”
The MSB's statement said: “Infantry Contracted Private Yusuf Sait Ünlü was killed on October 31 by fire believed to have come from Iran during an operation to prevent an illegal crossing in the area of responsibility of the Engin Mine Border Post on the Türkiye-Iran border. Judicial and administrative investigations were launched immediately after the incident, and a meeting was held with Iranian officials at the scene on November 3, 2026.”
The statement added: “The Iranian authorities have also launched a judicial and administrative investigation to clarify the incident in question. Efforts to shed light on all aspects of the incident are continuing meticulously in coordination with the Iranian authorities.” No public statement by the Iranian side on the matter was available.
The ministry also said: “We once again ask God to have mercy on our heroic comrade-in-arms, Infantry Contracted Private Yusuf Sait Ünlü, who was killed in this incident that has caused us deep pain and sorrow, and offer our condolences and patience to his grieving family, the Turkish Armed Forces and our noble nation.” MSB spokesperson Rear Admiral Zeki Aktürk also offered prayers for Ünlü and Infantry Specialist Sergeant Oğuz Şahin, who was killed after falling ill in the area of responsibility of the Alparslan Border Post in Van's Çaldıran district, and expressed condolences to their families at the opening of the briefing.
Laid to rest in his hometown of Çine
Ünlü, 28, was buried with prayers after a military ceremony in his hometown of Çine, in Aydın province. Military officials, civilian administrators, the martyr's relatives and many residents attended the ceremony. His father, Lütfi Ünlü, who had been preparing for his son's marriage ceremony in December and wedding next April, expressed his grief, saying: “He was going to return to his family home in the first week of December. We were going to have the marriage ceremony and the wedding. It has all been postponed until the hereafter.”
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also offered his condolences to the martyr's family. Minister of National Defence Yaşar Güler said in a condolence message: “On behalf of myself and the personnel of the Ministry of National Defence, I ask God to have mercy on our heroic martyr and offer my condolences and patience to his grieving family and our noble nation.”
24/7 security at the borders
The MSB also shared the latest data on border security during the same briefing. Rear Admiral Aktürk said that “at our borders, where security is maintained at the highest level 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” 665 people, including eight members of terrorist organisations, had been caught attempting to cross illegally over the past week, while 1,766 people had been prevented from crossing the border. Since January 1, the number of people caught attempting to cross the borders illegally has reached 15,294, while the number prevented from doing so has reached 59,621.
Cover photo: Clash Report (archive). Photo: Ministry of National Defence / AA
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