Land Forces

The Supreme Military Council presided over by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has announced the appointment of Gen. Metin Gürak as the new chief of General Staff.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will preside over the Supreme Military Council meeting next week at the Presidential Complex, where key appointments and promotions within the Turkish Armed Forces will be deliberated.

Türkiye has warned Greece once again that it will never accept extending its territorial waters to more than 6 miles in the Aegean Sea amid reports that Athens is beginning to mull over increasing its sovereign waters to up to 12 miles off Crete island in the region.

The main objective for Turkey and Azerbaijan is the continuity of a cease-fire and to bring stability to the region, Turkish defense chief Hulusi Akar said on Nov. 5 at a reception at the Azerbaijan Embassy in Ankara for Victory Day.

Turkish National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, together with military commanders, conducted on-site inspections of measures taken on the Iranian border on Aug. 14. 

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Akar, Chief of General Staff Gen. Yaşar Güler, and Land Forces Commander Gen. Musa Avsever were welcomed at Van Ferit Melen Airport.

Turkey has replaced Land Forces Commander Gen. Ümit Dündar with 1st Army Commander Gen. Musa Avsever in a routine reshuffle as the former is retired as per the age limitation, while Navy and Air forces commander's mandates are extended for another year.

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Turkey will convene its Supreme Military Council (YAŞ) on Aug. 4, where decisions will be taken to name top military brass.

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The YAŞ is convened every year to discuss promotions and dismissals of the high-ranking military personnel under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and with the participation of key civilian and military officials.

Turkish security forces have neutralized more than 18,000 terrorists since July 24, 2015, the national defense minister said on June 25. 

Hulusi Akar, accompanied by Land Forces Commander Gen. Ümit Dündar, Naval Forces Admiral Adnan Özbal and Air Forces Commander Gen. Hasan Küçükakyüz visited a military base in the eastern province of Malatya.

The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) has successfully completed its four-day Operation Claw-Eagle 2 and cleared Gara region of Northern Iraq of PKK elements, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said Feb. 14, adding that PKK terrorists killed 13 unarmed Turkish citizens that they were held hostage since 2015.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on June 5 said that Turkish soldiers are approaching the "targeted plans" in Libya during the struggle they are leading with their "Libyan brothers.