Turkish coup d'état attempt

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. 

The Supreme Military Council (YA?) will convene for a regular annual meeting on Aug. 3 to discuss appointments and retirements in the top echelons of the Turkish Armed Forces amid ongoing cross-border operations in Iraq and Syria.

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.

A prosecutor in Turkey has demanded a life sentence for Can Dündar, Editor-in-chief at daily Cumhuriyet, Turkish news outlets report.

Separately, an aggravated life sentence and 42 years of imprisonment have been requested.

Seven on-duty military officers were arrested on May 18 while three soldiers were released, within the investigation into the halting of Syria-bound National Intelligence Organization (M?T) trucks in January 2014.

Istanbul's second criminal court of peace decided for the arrest of seven out of 10 detained officers and soldiers on May 18. 

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. 

Former President Abdullah Gül has contradicted Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu, stressing that he was not informed before the latter figure visited the U.S.-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gülen in 2013.

Turkish authorities jailed two judges who are accused of setting dozens of political enemies of Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan, free.

The two judges freed journalists and around 60 police officers who were arrested last year on charges of conspiracy against the President.