Turkey’s defense exports enjoyed  76 percent year-on-year surge in July while domestic conflicts ravage some of the country’s neighbors, data from the Defense Industry Exporters Union (SSİ) revealed on Friday.

The extraordinary hike in sales prompted skepticism in markets with analysts speculating over arms sales to such conflict zones as Syria, Iraq and Libya.

In reply to a question on whether arms and defense equipment were sold to Iraq and Syria, Aliş said Turkey has so far denied selling arms to countries located in and around war zones.

Sources familiar with the issue, on the other hand, told Today’s Zaman that Turkey has sold armored vehicles, night vision sub-systems and the Kirpi armored vehicles to some war zones such as Iraq and Libya in the past. Furthermore, Turkish gendarmes reportedly discovered weapons and ammunition after pursuing a truck bound for Syria in the southern province of Adana in January of this year.

Though government officials claimed that the trucks were carrying aid to Turkmens along the Syrian border affected by the tensions in Syria, what the trucks were loaded with has not been shared with the media since.