Türkiye marks 10 years since failed July 15 coup attempt

Türkiye on Wednesday marked the 10th anniversary of the failed July 15, 2016 coup attempt, in which 253 people were killed and more than 2,700 injured after members of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) attempted to overthrow the government.

The coup attempt, launched by elements within the Turkish Armed Forces linked to FETÖ, was defeated after approximately 21 hours following resistance by security forces and civilians who responded to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's call to take to the streets.

Coup attempt unfolded after intelligence warning

According to the official account, the plot was originally scheduled to begin in the early hours of July 16 but was brought forward to the evening of July 15 after Turkish intelligence received a tip-off from an army major alleging plans to detain then-National Intelligence Organization (MIT) chief Hakan Fidan.

Military commanders subsequently issued orders restricting aircraft movements and the deployment of armored units, prompting the coup plotters to accelerate their plans.

FETÖ members seized strategic locations, including bridges in Istanbul and military facilities in Ankara, while fighter jets and helicopters carried out attacks on key state institutions.

Parliament among targets

During the night, the Turkish parliament, police headquarters, the Special Operations Department and other government buildings came under aerial attack. State broadcaster TRT was briefly occupied, where coup plotters forced the reading of a declaration announcing military rule.

President Erdoğan addressed the nation via a live television broadcast shortly after midnight, urging citizens to resist the coup attempt.

The failed takeover also included the abduction of then-Chief of General Staff Hulusi Akar, while Special Forces soldier Ömer Halisdemir fatally shot one of the coup's leading commanders before being killed.

Coup defeated within 21 hours

By the afternoon of July 16, Turkish authorities announced that the coup attempt had been suppressed.

Official figures show that 253 civilians and security personnel were killed during the events, while thousands more were injured. Authorities said the coup plotters deployed around 9,000 military personnel, 35 aircraft, 37 helicopters, 246 armored vehicles, including 74 tanks, and nearly 4,000 firearms.

FETÖ leader died in 2024

Turkish authorities accuse FETÖ leader Fetullah Gülen of orchestrating the coup attempt from the United States, where he had lived since 1999. Ankara repeatedly sought his extradition, but U.S. authorities did not approve the requests.

Gülen died on Oct. 20, 2024, at a hospital in Pennsylvania. His death was later confirmed to Turkish authorities by the U.S. State Department.

Türkiye continues to designate FETÖ as a terrorist organization and holds it responsible for infiltrating state institutions over several decades before the failed coup attempt.

Source:AA