Hulusi Akar

Turkey's Chief of General Staff, Gen. Necdet Özel, will pay a farewell visit to the main opposition leader on July 30 amid an ongoing military campaign against outlawed organizations.

Reports that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) recalled commanders deployed along part of its border with Syria to the capital Ankara for a meeting on a possible military incursion into Syria ?do not reflect reality,? Turkish military sources stated on July 6.

The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) has recalled the commanders of troops deployed along part of its border with Syria to the capital Ankara, for a meeting during which they will discuss a possible military incursion into Syria.

The top commander of Turkey has returned back to his office after a 15-day medical leave of absence, which led to speculations about whether a possible disagreement over military intervention in Syria was the real reason for his leave.

On May 9 it was announced that Turkish Chief of the General Staff Necdet Özel had taken a 15-day leave of absence for health reasons.

The Turkish army and Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu have refuted claims that Chief of General Staff Gen. Necdet Özel left his office because of a disagreement with the government over military intervention in Syria, underlining he will be back to his job after recovering from a medical procedure. 

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu has crossed into Syria to pay an unscheduled visit to the historic tomb of Süleyman ?ah.

Military helicopters protected the Turkish convoy while the prime minister visited the tomb, only 253 meters away from the border, near Syria's Ashme village.

Turkish Chief of Staff Gen. Necdet Özel has taken a medical leave of 15 days, military sources have told daily Hürriyet.

The situation came out when Gen. Özel did not appear at the General Staff Headquarters on May 9 at a time
there are rumors of a military intervention in Syria. 

Turkish Chief of Staff Gen. Necdet Özel has taken a medical leave of 10 days, military sources have told daily Hürriyet.

The situation came out when Gen. Özel did not appear at the General Staff Headquarters on May 9 at a time
there are rumors of a military intervention in Syria. 

Turkey has evacuated its military personnel protecting the Tomb of Süleyman ?ah in northern Syria as well as the artifacts in the mausoleum in an operation jointly conducted by the intelligence organization and the Turkish army, a few days after reports suggested that the tomb was besieged by jihadists belonging to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).