Cross-border operations refer to military activities conducted by a state beyond its national borders in order to neutralize threats that pose a direct risk to national security. These operations are typically planned around objectives such as counterterrorism, border security, preventive defense, and deterrence. In modern security doctrines, the idea that threats must be eliminated at their source rather than at the border itself has positioned cross-border operations as a core element of national defense strategies.

From a technical perspective, cross-border operations involve multiple critical components, including intelligence superiority, air–ground coordination, logistical sustainability, and a defined legal framework. Unlike large-scale conventional wars, these missions usually focus on limited objectives and rely on precision-oriented execution. In the case of Türkiye, the Turkish Armed Forces view cross-border operations as an integral part of preventing security threats before they reach national territory. Today, such operations are evaluated not only through military success but also in terms of diplomatic balance, regional consequences, and international perception management, making them a multidimensional policy instrument within contemporary security planning.