Necdet Özel

The July 2016 coup attempt of Fethullah Gülen's followers took decades of systematic planning, which involved the infiltration of the Turkish Armed Forces from bottom to top. By the time of the coup attempt, Gülen's followers occupied almost half of the general and admiral positions. 

A parliamentary commission on Turkey's thwarted July 15 military coup attempt is set to hear the opinions of prominent figures including President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's brother-in-law, Ziya İlgen, from whom Erdoğan said he first learned about the coup attempt. 

Turkey?s frontline role in the United States-led campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), as well as the ongoing battle against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers? Party (PKK), has increased Turkey?s security needs, the country?s new top commander has said, calling for a marshalling of all resources at hand.

The Turkish government has decided to bestow outgoing Chief of Turkish General Staff Gen. Necdet Özel with the state medal of honor in recognition of his ?high services to the nation.?

Hulusi Akar, the new general chief of staff, is coming to transform the Turkish Armed Forces, says a former member of the army.

Top officials of Turkey's government and military have visited a border outpost attacked by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants last month.

General Hulusi Akar, the Commander of the Turkish Land Forces was appointed as the new Chief of General Staff (CGS) by President Tayyip Erdo?an following the three-day Supreme Military Council (YA?) meetings held Aug. 3-5 and chaired by Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu.

Turkey?s top soldier is assuming his responsibilities at a very critical time. Amid a civil war in nearby Syria, a possible land offensive in Iraq against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and the surge of outlawed Kurdistan Workers? Party (PKK) attacks inside Turkey, Gen. Hulusi Akar will be juggling many balls while delicately handling domestic politics.

Turkey has renewed its top military brass and appointed Land Forces Commander Gen. Hulusi Akar as the new Chief of General Staff, as his predecessor Gen. Necdet Özel has completed his four-year mandate. Gen. Özel is expected to hand over his seat to Gen. Akar on Aug. 14. 

Turkey's Supreme Military Council (YA?) convened for its regular annual meeting on Aug. 3 to discuss appointments and retirements of high-ranking staff officers and generals in the Turkish Armed Forces, as well as for the removal of military personnel from the army.