Hulusi Akar

At least 68 militants of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) have been killed in ongoing operations in the southeastern province of ??rnak over the last four days, a security official said on Dec. 19.

The country's top soldier, Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar, meanwhile, paid a surprise visit to the province amid the operations.

Nobel Prize in Chemistry laureate Aziz Sancar met with President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an and Chief of General Staff Hulusi Akar in Ankara on Dec. 15, stating again that he will present his medal and certificate to the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Turkish Republic.

Turkey's Supreme Military Council (YA?) convened on Nov. 26, at the helm of Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu amid the crisis between Moscow and Ankara after the downing of a Russian SU-24 warplane due to an airspace violation on the Syrian frontier. 

Two Turkish F-16's shot down a Russian-made SU-24 jet on Nov. 24 near the Syrian border after it violated Turkish airspace, presidential sources said.

Turkey shot down the jet after it failed to heed the warnings within the rules of engagement.

Initial reports said the jet belonged to Russia, but presidential sources later clarified that the jet's nationality was unknown.

Two Turkish F-16's shot down a Russian-made SU-24 jet on Nov. 24 near the Syrian border after it violated Turkish airspace, presidential sources said.

Turkey shot down the jet after it failed to heed the warnings within the rules of engagement.

Initial reports said the jet belonged to Russia, but presidential sources later clarified that the jet's nationality was unknown.

The Supreme Military Council (YA?) will convene on Nov. 26, chaired by Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu. 

Members of the council including Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar, the defense minister, force commanders, army commanders, the gendarmerie forces commander, navy commanders, and four star generals, will participate at the top defense meeting, which is held twice a year.

Turkey has called for a U.N. Security Council meeting to discuss attacks on Turkmens in neighboring Syria, according to Prime Ministry sources, with Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu saying his government will "not hesitate" to take the required measures on Syrian soil to protect the Turkmen people.

Turkey will not hesitate to take required measures on Syrian soil to protect the Turkmen people, Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu said, while noting that the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) is not active in the region.

Turkey has boosted diplomatic efforts to protect Turkmens in Syria from increased attacks by the Russian and Syrian armies, amid concerns that they could face even tougher days if these military operations would not stop. 

Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar hosted his counterpart, Qatari Armed Forces Chief of Staff Ghanim bin Shaheen Al-Ghanim, on Nov. 16, as global diplomatic efforts aimed at responding to threats posed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) intensified in the wake of the series of attacks in Paris late on Nov. 13.