'Ill-intentioned criticism' trying to cast shadow on struggle against terror: Turkish armed forces

The Turkish military said on Feb. 28 that recent "unfounded and ill-intentioned" criticism toward Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar aimed to cast a shadow on the Turkish Armed Forces' (TSK) struggle against terrorism. 

In a written statement, the TSK referred to information provided to daily Hürriyet for a story published on Feb. 25, which has since been strongly criticized by government officials.

"We regret efforts to blur the agenda with allegations and defamation at a time when the Euphrates Shield operation [in northern Syria] is progressing successfully. Suggesting that there are problems between the Turkish Armed Forces and the government distorts the issue," read the statement, criticizing the headline of the article which read "Unease at military HQ."

The statement stressed that the Turkish Armed Forces is "at the disposal of state and nation and resolutely presses ahead with actions aiming to maintain the security of the homeland."