Turkish Defense Minister Fikri Işık has announced that there will be a new expulsion of officers in the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and that an upcoming meeting of the Supreme Military Council (YAŞ) will be the opportunity to carry this out.
Speaking to TRT Haber on Tuesday, Işık said: “We will never show any tolerance for the individuals we have found out to have links [with terror organizations]. YAŞ is an opportunity for this, both for an extension of duty and for retirement as well.”
Thousands of military officers have been removed from the TSK in the aftermath of a failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016.
Most of the officers were expelled on the grounds that they had links to the faith-based Gülen movement, which is accused by the Turkish government of masterminding the failed coup attempt. The movement strongly denies any involvement in the putsch.
The next YAŞ meeting, where expulsions and promotions as well as the retirement of military officers are decided, will be held in August.