I'm in Syria, Turkish commander responds to coup panel

The commander of Turkey's special forces, who had a crucial role in thwarting the July 15 failed coup attempt, has said he is currently in Syria within the scope of the Euphrates Shield Operation in northern Syria and cannot attend a session of the parliamentary commission formed to investigate the failed coup.  

The commission wanted to hear Special Forces commander Lt.-Gen. Zekai Aksakallı on Nov. 17 to better understand how the July 15 coup attempt occurred but received a negative response from the special forces command, saying "Aksakallı is in Syria and thus cannot come to the panel this week." 

Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) rebels launched an operation on Nov. 13 to capture northern Syria's al-Bab from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) under the Euphrates Shield Operation. 

The operation was initially launched on Aug. 24 in order to free Turkey's border with Syria from putative terrorist groups.

Aksakallı, who is currently conducting the Euphrates Shield operation, was promoted to this rank by the Supreme Military Council (YAŞ), chaired by Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım, in its first meeting since the failed coup attempt.

Aksakallı, in his former capacity as major general, played a key role in the defeat of the attempted coup after realizing that his deputy, Brig.-Gen. Semih Terzi, was an active member of the junta. 

Aksakallı was trapped inside the Special Forces HQ as the plot was underway, after which he phoned his bodyguard, Sgt.-Maj. Ömer Halisdemir, who was outside the building. Aksakallı told Halisdemir that Terzi was a traitor and said Halisdemir should stop him from entering the building. Halisdemir shot Terzi, before being killed by the coup soldiers.

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