Latest Developments Related to the Failed Coup in Turkey

Less than 24 hours after the announcement of the coup in Turkey, over 2,800 military personnel have been detained, and orders for the dismissal and detention of more than 2,700 judicial officials have been issued. Turkish officials report that 265 people have died in incidents related to the coup. On the evening of Friday, July 15, a group of Turkish military forces attempted to seize power in the country, but it is reported that the leader of the coup plotters has been arrested. The President of Turkey claims the coup has failed and has urged his supporters not to return home until the situation normalizes. Both the President and the Prime Minister of Turkey emphasized in their initial reactions that the coup plotters would face the severest punishments. Government officials state that in the recent events, 161 civilians or police forces, as well as 104 coup plotters, have been killed. A total of 2,839 personnel have been detained in the military, and in addition, orders for the dismissal and detention of more than 2,700 judges and prosecutors have been issued. Among those detained are two commanders of the Second and Third Army, a former air force commander, and two constitutional court judges. Turkey has also closed the Incirlik Air Base, used for U.S. and allied operations against ISIS, until the air force is completely cleared. Erdogan has pointed the finger at Fethullah Gülen, a religious leader residing in the U.S., for orchestrating the coup, although Gülen denies this accusation and even considers the event to be potentially fabricated.