August'19 Issue 39
Inside This Issue
- Introduction: About DRK
- DRK Insight and Studies
- Regional Developments
- Turkey Security Incident Overview (1 Month)
- Turkey Security Incident Overview (3 Months)
- Prominent Regional Security Issue
- DRK Highlights: “Business Continuity Management; An Effective Tool to Mitigate Risks”
- Technology in Security World: “Anti-terror Barriers in Downtown”
Introduction: About DRK
DRK is a Risk Consultancy and Security Management Company. DRK explicitly differs from the other security consultation companies in Turkey with having the widest range of service categories from corporate level to individual services including the Business Continuity practices as well.
DRK’s ultimate aim is to satisfy the client’s security/risk consultancy needs and to figure out how to form an appropriate security system design through forming a holistic approach called “True System Security Architecture”. Therefore, DRK employs academicians, analysts or experienced retired army personnel in order to prepare high accuracy risk assessments, continuous security management in any region across Turkey and in the Middle East.
DRK Insight and Case Studies
- Turkey’s Strategic Positioning Amidst the Rising Tension with the United States
- Designating Turkey’s Security Concerns in Syria: Ongoing Conflict in Idlib
- Unlawful Referendum Attempt of Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and Its Implications
- Turkey – NATO Relations; Perspectives for the Future
- A Strategic Target: Oil and Gas Pipelines
- The Increasing Tension Between Iran and S. Arabia and Its Possible Implications for Global Business
- Possible Business – Wise Repercussions of a Potential Turkish Army intervention into Afrin Region in Northern Syria
- PKK-PYD-ISIS, Interactions; Future Possibilities on the Regional Terrorism Developments
Regional Developments
EU downgrades diplomatic ties, funding with Turkey over Cyprus gas drilling: In the latest escalation over Turkey’s gas drilling activities within disputed offshore territories near Cyprus, EU foreign ministers imposed an initial round of punitive measures on Ankara on Monday evening.
https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2019/07/eu-turkey-sanctions-drilling-cyprus.html
Accessed on July 16, 2019
Unemployment rate at 13% in April: Turkey's unemployment rate stood at 13.0% in April this year. Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) said the unemployment rate rose by 3.3 percentage points on a yearly basis.
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/unemployment-rate-at-13-in-april-144998
Accessed on July 16, 2019
At least nine civilians killed by PKK in Turkey this year: The PKK terror group has killed at least nine civilians, including children, this year in Turkey, according to the information gathered by Anadolu Agency. In its more than 30-year armed campaign against Turkey, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US and the EU – has been responsible for the death of some 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.
Accessed on July 16, 2019
White House says Turkey's involvement in F-35 program "impossible": The White House said that Turkey’s decision to purchase the Russian S-400 air defense system renders its continued involvement in the F-35 joint strike fighter program impossible. “The F-35 cannot coexist with a Russian intelligence collection platform that will be used to learn about its advanced capabilities,” the White House said in a statement.
Accessed on July 17, 2019
Turkish diplomat shot dead in Iraqi city, officials say: A gunman has killed a senior Turkish diplomat and a civilian in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s northern Kurdistan region, in a daytime attack inside a restaurant.
Accessed on July 17, 2019
Turkey's fight on narco-terrorism of PYD/PKK terror group: It is estimated that terror group has potential to have annual revenue of $1.5 billion through drug trafficking alone.
https://www.yenisafak.com/en/news/turkeys-fight-on-narco-terrorism-of-pyd-pkk-terror-group-3495802
Accessed on July 18, 2019
U.S. Military Returns to Saudi Arabia in Response to Iran: The Pentagon is sending hundreds of troops to Saudi Arabia as part of a buildup to counter potential threats from Iran and its allies, U.S. officials said, marking a U.S. return to the kingdom after its 2003 withdrawal.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-military-returns-to-saudi-arabia-in-response-to-iran-11563488620
Accessed on July 18, 2019
At least 18 killed in Syrian government attacks on Idlib province: Air attacks have killed at least 18 people in rebel-held Idlib including a young citizen journalist, according to rescue workers and a war monitor.
Accessed on July 22, 2019
Rocket fired from inside Syria wounds five in Turkish border town: Five people were lightly wounded after one of two rockets thought to be fired from within Syria landed on a house in a Turkish border town, the provincial governor’s office said.
Accessed on July 22, 2019
Turkey has 'no patience left' with U.S. on Syria safe zone: Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that new U.S. proposals for a safe zone in northern Syria fall short and Turkey was running out of patience as Washington appears to be stalling in efforts to seal an agreement.
Accessed on July 24, 2019
Republicans push tepid Trump to sanction Turkey: President Donald Trump is still hesitant to implement legally mandated sanctions on Turkey for its purchase of the S-400 Russian missile defense system — even after 45 Republican senators urged him during an unusual meeting to follow the law and do so.
Accessed on July 24, 2019
Turkey's central bank delivers massive interest rate cut: Policymakers - including newly installed central bank chief- slashed Turkey's key interest rate from 24 percent to 19.75 percent.
Accessed on July 25, 2019
Four Turkish Nationals Rescued in Central Nigeria after Kidnapping: Four Turkish nationals abducted in the central Nigerian state of Kwara have been rescued. The Turkish were kidnapped at gunpoint by six armed men, the police statement said, adding that no ransom was paid for their release.
Accessed on July 26, 2019
U.S. troops in Georgia amid tensions with Russia: About 1,500 American troops are in Georgia for joint military exercises, Agile Spirit 2019, a show of support amid a festering crisis with Russia.
https://eurasianet.org/us-troops-in-georgia-amid-tensions-with-russia
Accessed on July 29, 2019
'Turkey to fight terror groups with resolution': “Counter-terror operations, Claw and Claw 2, in northern Iraq will continue until terrorists are wiped off in the region,” the National Security Council said in a statement after its meeting at the Presidential Complex in Ankara.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/turkey-to-fight-terror-groups-with-resolution/1545476
Accessed on July 30, 2019
Turkey Security Incident Overview – 1 Month
(July 1 – Aug 1, 2019)
Turkey Security Incident Overview – 3 Months
(May 1 – Aug 1, 2019)
Prominent Regional Security Issue
Unpromising Idlib’s Condition Worsens Daily
Idlib has drawn more attention when Russian backed Syrian government initiated a massive offensive in order to take the control of the province. The last rebel held town borders Turkey to the north and a conjunction of highways south from Aleppo to Hama and Damascus, and west to Latakia all of which is under control of Syrian Government. Idlib is also the home of more than 3 million people %40 percent of whom has come from other previously opposition held areas. Above all, The UN reports indicate that more than 350 civilians had been killed in a week and 330,000 forced to flee their homes since clashes escalated on April 29.
None of the major parties seemed to agree upon Idlib yet. The Assad regime has consistently broken the terms of the cease-fire, launching attacks inside the de-escalation zone. Contrary to released reports, Moscow denied that Russian forces had targeted any civilian infrastructure, carried out any missions in the area. Iran has been one step behind the scene. US’s eyes are especially on the PYD/YPG controlled western part of Syria.
According to the trilateral agreement between Turkey, Russia and Iran; Ankara has installed military outposts around the province to observe de-escalation zone, to create a safe haven for internally displaced people (IDP) and to secure the southern border and area of “Olive Branch” and “Euphrates Shield” operations. Since the escalation of fighting around Idlib, Turkish military outposts have been targeted by Assad forces and there are several killed and wounded.
The military and humanitarian situation in Idlib has worsened recently. Assad forces have concentrated on the last rebel stronghold to seize the province. If Idlib falls, it will militarily mean the defeat of Syrian opposition against Assad regime. As a result, Syrian Democratic Forces, predominantly controlled by PYD/YPG and backed by Washington, will only be the opposition to Damascus. Besides all, PYD/YPG will have gained utmost managerial power and been a major player on the table while reconstructing Syria.
DRK Highlights: Business Continuity Management; An Effective Tool to Mitigate Risks
Business continuity management is a tool that can be employed to provide greater confidence that the outputs of processes and services can be delivered in the face of risks. It is concerned with identifying and managing the risks which threaten to disrupt essential processes and associated services, mitigating the effects of these risks, and ensuring that recovery of a process or service is achievable without significant disruption to the enterprise (Gibb & Buchanan, 2006: 129).
According to the international organization for standards (ISO), BCM life cycle involves six elements including the business continuity program management, embedding competence and awareness in the culture of organization, understanding the organization, selecting business continuity options, developing and implementing a business continuity response, and exercising and testing the developed plans as shown below.
The phases (some of which will overlap) are:
- Program initiation.
- Project initiation.
- Risk analysis.
- Selecting risk mitigation strategies.
- Monitoring and control.
- Implementation.
- Testing.
- Education and training.
- Review.
Technology in Security World: Anti-terror Barriers in Downtown
Anti-terror physical measures have been developed since the escalation of public vehicle based terrorist attacks around the world. As a result of scientific efforts after such horrendous attacks, anti-terror barrier system technology has reached a satisfactory level. They are defined as to stop, disable, or destroy vehicles intentionally driven into the protected area. These barriers may be active (upward and downward movable on installed site), static (concrete, stainless steel heavy equipment permanently placed) and portable (made by light material, temporarily installed, easy to re-install) depending on the threat and security projects parameters.
DRK Risk & Security Consulting
