The plan included landing on Oinousses, Fourni and Leros, combined with amphibious special airborne forces. This operation was prepared in 2002-2003, as part of efforts to weaken Erdogan’s government, according to today’s publication of Turkish newspaper “Yeni Safak”.The daily claimed that documents found in the headquarters of the fleet Gkioltzouk showed that the junta who prepared “Sledgehammer” was also planning Turkish landings on Oinousses, Fourni and Leros islands. Plans were under the orders of the Commander of the Turkish fleet, Admiral Ozden Ornek. The Commander was planning to cause the crisis for the islets in the Aegean which are formally known in Turkey as: “islands, islets and rocks, the ownership of which is not transferred by an agreement in Greece”. This order required the set up of relevant committees by March 3, 2003, the day that the Sledgehammer plan would be discussed.
According to the newspaper, the meeting concerning the “Suga” plan took place in December 2002 and was the naval part of the “Sledgehammer”. It: “proposed to exploit the friction that sometimes occurs between Turkish and Greek when fishing around the island Zourafa”.
The publication also states, “The purpose was to carry out an extensive operation to Leros, involving naval and air forces. This would guarantee the reaction of Greece and the outbreak of a crisis”.
A report written after a meeting in December 2002 and signed by Commander Denise Tzora claimed: “It is estimated that the preparation of an extensive operation against Leros, will cause a change in alert status of Greece”.
In another report of the committees established under the plan “Suga”, the names of the islands in which Turkish forces would land on are mentioned. “Oinousses control the north channel of Cesme and the east channel of Chios and will therefore offer an important advantage over Greece.”
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