Zekai Aksakallı

Seven general and admirals asked for retirement of their own volition before recent promotions and demotions within Turkey's military ranks, the Defense Ministry has stated, amid media reports that the government had asked 10 generals to retire and threatened them with dismissal through state of emergency degrees. 

Speaking after the controversial demotion of a top Turkish general who played a key role in defeating last year's coup attempt and who later led a cross-border operation in Syria, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said soldiers should "obey assignments."

The Special Forces Commander Lieutenant Gen. Zekai Aksakallı, who commanded anti-coup forces during the July 15 attempt and the Operation Euphrates Shield in Syria, was reshuffled to command the Second Army Corps in the western region of Gelibolu.

The appointments that had not come into effect with the Supreme Military Council (YAŞ) were announced in the Official Gazette on Aug. 19.

Chief Sergeant Ömer Halisdemir took an order over the phone on the night of the July 15, 2016 coup attempt from Special Forces Commander Zekai Aksakallı: "I am giving you a historic duty in the name of our country and nation. Brigadier General Terzi is a traitor, an insurgent. Kill him before he enters the headquarters. There is martyrdom at the end of this. Give your blessing."
 

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.

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. 

Three Turkish soldiers were killed in an air attack by Syrian regime forces in Aleppo province on Nov. 24, the Turkish Armed Forces has announced.

Ten soldiers were also wounded in the attack on the 93rd day of Turkey's Euphrates Shield Operation, it stated.

The bodies of the killed soldiers were transferred to border province of Gaziantep.

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.