Ömer Halisdemir

Special Forces Commander Gen. Zekai Aksakallı, as a witness in the case regarding the shooting of noncommissioned officer Ömer Halisdemir, said the first measure to be taken in a crisis in the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) is to give the order, "No personnel to leave the barracks!"

The failed July 2016 coup would have been revealed immediately if personnel had been ordered to stay in their military barracks on that day, Special Forces Commander Lt. Gen. Zekai Aksakallı has said in his testimony as a witness into the killing of anti-coup soldier Ömer Halisdemir, who has been idolized for his actions during a raid on the Special Forces Command in Ankara.

The second hearing of the case into the attempted takeover of the Special Forces Command in Ankara's Gölbaşı district during the July 15, 2016 failed coup attempt was held on March 1, with the participation of the wife and brothers of anti-coup soldier Ömer Halisdemir, who has been idolized for his resistance during a raid on the command. 

A court has ruled for Special Forces Commander Lt. Gen. Zekai Aksakallı to testify as a witness in the case into the killing of anti-coup soldier Ömer Halisdemir, who has been idolized for his resistance during a raid on the Special Forces Command in Ankara. 

The trial for the killing of a Turkish anti-coup soldier, who has been idolized for his resistance during a raid on the Special Forces Command in Ankara before he was killed by coup plotting soldiers, has started. 

Eighteen suspects involved in a deadly raid on Gölbaşı Special Forces Commandership in Ankara on the night of the July 15 coup attempt, believed to have been orchestrated by the Gülen movement, face multiple sentences of aggravated life imprisonment after an indictment was accepted on Dec. 1.

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 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.  

Thousands of people have applied to be recruited by Turkey's Special Forces Command, which will recruit personnel from outside the military for the first time ever amid ongoing suspensions and dismissals carried out in the army since the failed coup attempt of July 15. 

According to initial data, a total of 7,929 people have applied to the command in only four days.

The Defense Ministry has prepared new posters to attract fresh recruits to Turkey's Special Forces Command, amid ongoing suspensions and dismissals carried out in the army since the failed coup attempt of July 15. 

In line with the new campaign, the Special Forces Command will recruit personnel from outside the military for the first time ever.