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Turkey to Replace Army, Navy, Air Force Commanders


Turkey's Land Forces commander Gen. Salih Zeki Colak follows Prime Minister Binali Yildirim before a meeting of High Military Council with army commanders and ministers, in Ankara, Aug. 2, 2017.
Turkey's Land Forces commander Gen. Salih Zeki Colak follows Prime Minister Binali Yildirim before a meeting of High Military Council with army commanders and ministers, in Ankara, Aug. 2, 2017.

Turkey's top military body will replace its heads of the army, air force, and navy, Turkish media reported Wednesday.

The heads of the three military bodies will be replaced by other high-ranking members of the military in Turkey's latest shakeup of the armed forces after last year's failed coup, according to media reports.

The decision followed a Wednesday meeting of the Supreme Military Council (YAS) chaired by Prime Minister Binali Yildrim, and will go to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for final approval later Wednesday.

Commander of Turkish Land Forces Salih Zeki Colak will be replaced by the commander of the gendarmerie forces Yasar Guler. Naval commander Bulent Bostanoglu would be replaced by Adnan Ozbal, a vice-admiral, and Air Force Commander Abidin Unal will be replaced by General Hasan Kucukakyuz.

YAS usually meets once a year, but it has convened three times since the failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016. The council also has shifted to give more prominence to government ministers, and meetings now are hosted by the prime minister instead of being held at military headquarters.

Last year, YAS put 586 colonels into retirement and reduced the length of some officers' service.

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