July 15 Coup Attempt

The July 15 Coup Attempt was a failed uprising carried out in 2016 by members of the Fetullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) within the Turkish Armed Forces with the aim of overthrowing the constitutional order and seizing power. July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day was officially declared by the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye as a day of commemoration following the failure of the July 15, 2016 coup attempt, which was thwarted by the joint resistance of the public and security forces. The attempt targeted the constitutional order democratic institutions and elected officials; numerous public institutions and civilian settlements were directly attacked. This date is regarded in Türkiye as a turning point where the popular will and constitutional legitimacy were collectively defended.

An Image Depicting the July 15 Coup Attempt (AA)

Fetullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) Structure and Activities

The Fetullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) systematically infiltrated the fundamental institutions of the Republic of Türkiye and pursued a long-term strategy to seize power, particularly seeking to expand its influence through the political apparatus. Initially referred to in public discourse as “the community” and later as “the parallel state structure,” this organization was officially designated by the Republic of Türkiye as an “armed terrorist organization” following the December 17–25, 2013 events and the July 15, 2016 coup attempt.

Structure and Personnel Infiltration

The foundations of FETÖ were laid during the 1960s when Fetullah Gülen worked as a religious instructor in İzmir. In its initial phase, a student network was established through “Light Houses”; after the 1980s it became institutionalized through tutoring centers and private schools, and subsequently infiltrated strategic state institutions such as the media, judiciary, police, finance and the Turkish Armed Forces.^【1】 

Relations with Politics and Infiltration Strategy

According to the Grand National Assembly’s Investigation Commission on the Coup Attempt report, FETÖ never presented itself as a direct political movement but pursued a strategy of personnel infiltration and influence-building through contact with all political parties, especially ruling parties. The era of Turgut Özal is considered the first period of political contact, while close relations were established in the 1990s with the DYP, ANAP and DSP. During the Refah-Yol government, the organization used its media power to target the government, supported the February 28 process and carried out its first political operations in collaboration with patronage networks.^【2】 

With the single-party rule of the AK Party after 2002, FETÖ strengthened its bureaucratic influence through its existing personnel. However, as the government’s political legitimacy grew, its operational space began to shrink. Tensions between FETÖ and the government first emerged during the MİT director selection process on February 7, 2012 and became openly apparent in 2013 with attempts to close down tutoring centers. This period marked significant moments of FETÖ’s intervention in politics.^【3】 

The Ergenekon and Balyoz Cases

The Ergenekon and Balyoz cases, conducted by FETÖ-affiliated judges and police officials, were an attempt to eliminate dissenting personnel within the Turkish Armed Forces by exploiting the judicial system.^【4】  These cases, which progressed on the basis of fabricated evidence and illegal wiretaps, were later invalidated by rulings from the Constitutional Court and the Court of Cassation, resulting in the acquittal of the defendants.^【5】 

The February 7 MİT Crisis

The summons of MİT Director Hakan Fidan on February 7, 2012, was regarded as a turning point in which FETÖ directly targeted the executive branch using its judicial power. This move demonstrated the organization’s attempt to use its influence within the state as a tool of pressure against political will.^【6】

The MİT Truck Incident

The interception of MİT aid trucks in 2014 was an operation carried out through FETÖ elements within the security bureaucracy, aiming to criminalize intelligence activities.^【7】  Legal proceedings were later initiated against the individuals involved.^【8】 

The FETÖ Coup Attempt

On the night of July 15, 2016, members of the Fetullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) embedded within the Turkish Armed Forces launched a coup attempt aimed at eliminating the constitutional order. During the uprising, fire was opened on civilians and numerous strategic public institutions, communication centers and transportation infrastructure were targeted; direct attacks were carried out against the state’s core organs and individuals, including the President, the government and the parliament.

Events Preceding the Coup

On July 14, an officer arrived at the MİT headquarters and reported that certain individuals within the Army Aviation School were planning an assassination against MİT Director Hakan Fidan.^【9】  Following this tip, various security measures were taken between MİT and the General Staff, but the coup plan was delayed and executed on the evening of July 15.

Occupation of Strategic Locations

On the night of July 15, 2016, FETÖ-affiliated rebel soldiers targeted numerous strategic locations across Türkiye in an effort to seize state control. Critical institutions such as the General Staff Headquarters, MİT compound, police buildings, airports, communication centers and media outlets were targeted for occupation. These sites were chosen to establish the coup’s command and communication infrastructure. However, the resistance of security forces and the public largely thwarted these occupation attempts.

The Bosphorus Strait^【10】 

At around 9:40 PM on July 15, 2016, rebel soldiers deployed tanks and armored vehicles from the General Nurettin Baransel Barracks in Maltepe and unilaterally closed the Bosphorus Bridge and Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge from Anatolia to Europe.^【11】  Long queues of vehicles formed at the bridge entrances, while soldiers in Beylerbeyi told civilians to return home, announcing a state of emergency and that power had been seized.^【12】 

In the following hours, thousands of citizens rushed to the Bosphorus Bridge (later renamed the July 15 Martyrs Bridge). Around 1:40 AM, soldiers opened fire on the crowd gathered on the bridge;^【13】  in these attacks, which also involved tanks, 34 people were killed, including police officers Münür Alkan and Kemal Tosun, advertiser Erol Olçok and his son Abdullah Tayyip Olçok.^【14】 

General Staff Headquarters

The General Staff Headquarters was the military command center of the coup attempt. At 9:00 PM, General Staff Chairman General Hulusi Akar was informed of the coup; shortly afterward, Army Commander Salih Zeki Çolak and General Staff Deputy Chairman Yaşar Güler were detained and taken to the Akıncı Base.^【15】  The headquarters building was quickly taken over by the rebels, and helicopters opened fire on civilians gathered outside.^【16】 

On the Night of July 15, General Staff Chairman Hulusi Akar and Force Commanders Were Taken to Akıncı (Mürted) Base (TRT)

Akıncı (Mürted) Air Base

The Akıncı Base in Ankara’s Kazan district was used as the coup’s command center. Senior commanders including Hulusi Akar were held there, and civilians opposing the coup were fired upon. In the later hours of the night, civilians lost their lives around the base. After the coup, civilians linked to FETÖ such as Adil Öksüz and Kemal Batmaz were found to have been present at the base.

On the night of July 15, 2016, the command structure of the Turkish Armed Forces was directly targeted in the FETÖ-led coup attempt. The aim was to neutralize force commanders, break the chain of command and bring military authority under their own control.

MİT Directorate

The MİT campus was scanned from the air by rebel helicopters. However, due to the armed resistance of MİT personnel, Director Hakan Fidan was not captured and the compound was not seized.^【17】 

Gölbaşı Special Operations Directorate

On the night of July 15, the Ankara Gölbaşı Police Special Operations Directorate was targeted twice by warplanes. Aircraft taking off from Akıncı Base killed 17 police officers in the first bombing.^【18】  Following a second bombing order, the total number of martyrs rose to 42. These attacks drew attention as among the most severe actions taken by the rebels to break the resistance of security forces.^【19】 

Ankara Police Directorate^【20】 

The Ankara Police Directorate building was attacked from both ground and air by FETÖ-affiliated soldiers. Rebel forces attempting to enter the building with tank and helicopter support encountered resistance from police and civilians; numerous people were injured during the clashes.^【21】 

Grand National Assembly of Türkiye

The Grand National Assembly of Türkiye was bombed for the first time in its history. Three bombs struck during the bombardment beginning at 2:33 AM, damaging the Prime Ministry office and the General Assembly chamber, and injuring more than 30 people. Members of parliament remained in the parliamentary shelter until dawn, where a joint statement against the coup was prepared.^【22】 

TRT and TURKSAT Building

Rebel soldiers occupied the TRT building at 10:00 PM and forced presenter Tijen Karaş to read a coup announcement at 12:05 AM.^【23】  The announcement was presented in the name of the “Council for Peace in the Country.” The rebels were rendered ineffective after citizens and security forces reclaimed TRT.^【24】 

After TRT’s broadcast was cut, the rebels attacked the TURKSAT Gölbaşı facility to completely sever communications. Helicopter-borne rebels attempted to damage the facility but were also neutralized there.^【25】 

Assassination Attempt Against President Erdoğan

On the night of July 15, FETÖ members sent an assassination team to the hotel in Marmaris where President Erdoğan was staying. However, Erdoğan had already left the hotel. The team clashed with the security detail, resulting in the martyrdom of two police officers. The assassination attempt failed.^【26】 

Bombing of the Presidential Complex

On the night of July 15, FETÖ-affiliated rebels targeted the area around the Presidential Complex. The intersection opposite the complex was bombed by F-16 fighter jets. Many people were injured in the attack, which aimed to prevent civilians from gathering and resisting.^【27】 

Government and Public Resistance to the Coup Attempt

Binali Yıldırım’s Statement

Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım, at around 11:10 PM, connected to a television channel and described the events as a “rebellion,” announcing that an illegal structure within the Turkish Armed Forces had attempted a coup. Yıldırım’s statement marked the first official communication to the public and triggered widespread public reaction. ^【28】 

President Erdoğan’s Call to the Public

One of the first public statements during the military coup attempt on the night of July 15, 2016, was made by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Although Erdoğan initially gave a press statement recorded by local journalists in Marmaris, this speech was not broadcast. Later, at 12:24 AM on CNN Türk, Erdoğan joined via live phone connection and called on the public to go to squares, airports and the entrances of public institutions.

Shortly after the CNN Türk broadcast, at 12:37 AM^【29】, Erdoğan also connected live to A Haber, where he emphasized the illegitimacy of the coup announcements and urged citizens not to heed such declarations.^【30】  The President’s phrases “I call upon my nation to the squares” and “We are ready to die! Just stand firm” became historic turning points that changed the course of the rebellion and ignited societal resistance.

Immediately following these appeals, the public poured into the streets across the country; especially in major cities like Istanbul and Ankara, citizens gathered in squares to oppose the coup attempt. Prayers were recited in mosques, and a broad social movement in defense of democracy began. President Erdoğan’s statement “I am coming to the square as President” became a symbol of the highest level of participation in the resistance.

Statements from the Command Structure Against the Coup Attempt

While uncertainty persisted at the General Staff headquarters, Istanbul-based First Army Commander General Ümit Dündar joined a live broadcast and declared that the coup attempt was rejected on behalf of the entire Turkish Armed Forces.^【31】  Similarly, Navy Commander Admiral Bülent Bostanoğlu stated, “As the command structure, we do not accept this attempt.” Special Forces Commander Zekai Aksakallı also labeled the rebellion as “treason” and announced that the command structure stood against the rebels.^【32】 

Ömer Halisdemir Shooting Rebel General Semih Terzi

To prevent FETÖ-appointed Brigadier General Semih Terzi from seizing control of the Special Forces Command headquarters, Commander Zekai Aksakallı ordered noncommissioned officer Ömer Halisdemir to intervene. Halisdemir shot and neutralized Terzi shortly after Terzi arrived at the headquarters, an act widely regarded as a critical turning point in the coup.^【33】 

Ömer Halisdemir AA)

Atatürk Airport

Istanbul Atatürk Airport was one of the key locations the rebels sought to seize. The control tower was occupied and air traffic halted. However, a special operations police operation successfully reclaimed the tower and neutralized the rebel soldiers. The public’s intense resistance also played a critical role in regaining control of the airport.^【34】  Atatürk Airport: It was blocked by tanks; fire was opened on the crowd, resulting in the martyrdom of 17-year-old Mahir Ayabak. Metin Doğan lying in front of a tank became an enduring image in public memory.

Rebel Soldiers at the Bosphorus Bridge Surrendered

In the following hours, thousands of citizens rushed to the Bosphorus Bridge (later renamed the July 15 Martyrs Bridge). Around 1:40 AM, soldiers opened fire on the crowd gathered on the bridge;^【35】  in these attacks, which also involved tanks, 34 people were killed, including police officers Münür Alkan and Kemal Tosun, advertiser Erol Olçok and his son Abdullah Tayyip Olçok.^【36】  The rebel soldiers who had taken control of the Bosphorus Bridge (July 15 Martyrs Bridge) surrendered in the early morning hours under the resistance of the public and security forces.

The Bosphorus Bridge on the Night of July 15 (AA)

Clashes in Istanbul and Ankara

On the night of July 15, rebel-controlled warplanes conducted low-altitude flights over the bridge area and various districts of Istanbul; sonic booms from F-16 jets were used in an attempt to break public resistance. Throughout the night until the coup’s end, numerous clashes occurred between rebel forces, civilians and security forces. Some of these include:

• Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge: Closed to traffic by coup plotters; two citizens lost their lives.

• Istanbul Governorate: Only nine police officers resisted against 90 coup soldiers; the attempt was repelled with public support.

• Istanbul Police Directorate (Vatan): The building, surrounded by four tanks and a helicopter, was defended by police and civilians; the coup plotters surrendered.^【37】 

• Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (Saraçhane): Fourteen people, including Professor Dr. İlhan Varank, were killed as a result of gunfire opened by coup plotters.^【38】 

• MİT Operations: MİT launched counter-operations from the very first hours of the coup attempt and conducted interventions against coup elements at critical locations. On the morning of 16 July, it was announced that systematic operations had been completed and that point operations at Akıncı Air Base and the Land Aviation Command were still ongoing.^【39】 

• AK Party Provincial Headquarters (Fatih): Occupied by coup soldiers from the 66th Mechanized Brigade; reclaimed by the public and officials.

• Sabiha Gökçen Airport: A brief attempt at occupation by coup soldiers arriving from Maltepe was prevented by the public.

• Taksim Square: Clashes occurred between coup plotters and civilians; 39 people were injured.

Night of the Coup at Taksim Square (AA)

• President Erdoğan’s Address to the Public at Atatürk Airport: On the morning of 16 July, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan landed at Atatürk Airport and addressed citizens gathered on the apron. Erdoğan strongly condemned the coup attempt and urged the public: “Do not leave this place until the situation returns to normal.”^【40】 

• Attack on Çengelköy Police Station: The station entrance was blocked by vehicles; seven people were killed and 62 injured.^【41】 

• Attack on the Çevik Kuvvet Building in Bayrampaşa: A military unit of 58 personnel, including 17 officers, departing from the Sultangazi Baştabya Barracks, attempted to seize the Çevik Kuvvet Branch Command in Bayrampaşa but encountered resistance from police and civilians. During the clashes, one civilian was killed and 16 others were injured.

• AKOM and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Logistics Support Center: The coup plotters who interfered with systems faced public resistance; numerous injuries occurred.

Events Outside Istanbul and Ankara

The July 15 coup attempt also involved significant military movements and resistance in many provinces outside Istanbul and Ankara.^【42】

• In Denizli and Aydın: Plans were made to deploy 550 soldiers to Ankara, but Çardak Airport prevented landings by turning off runway lights and blocking the runway with construction machinery. Civilians also gathered at the site to halt the troop movement.

• In Malatya: Civilians and municipal vehicles gathered in front of the Second Army Command and blocked the exit from the barracks. Armored vehicles opened fire, wounding one civilian. Clashes occurred between civilians and coup plotters; Second Army Commander Adem Huduti was arrested.

• In Sakarya: Civilians resisted coup plotters attempting to surround the provincial governor’s office. Nineteen people were injured. Military vehicles were seized, and soldiers surrendered their weapons.

• In Gölcük, Kocaeli: Coup-plotters departing from the Navy Command fired shots to disperse civilians. Civilians and police stopped a prison vehicle transporting two admirals under arrest and rescued them.

• In Diyarbakır: Six F-16 fighter jets were hijacked from the 8th Main Jet Base and participated in flights over Ankara.

• In Şırnak, Siirt, and Van: The attempts of certain commanders were thwarted as civilian movements were blocked or the commanders themselves were surrounded by the public.

• In Mersin, Hatay, Ardahan, Tunceli, Kars, Iğdır, Edirne, and Kırklareli, coup attempts also occurred. However, determined public resistance, combined with cooperation from provincial governorates and municipalities, prevented military units from leaving their barracks.

Statements by Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım

On the morning of July 16, then-Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım announced that the coup attempt had been brought under control and fully suppressed. Yıldırım stated that 161 people had lost their lives, 1,440 had been injured, and 2,839 military personnel had been arrested. He informed the public: “This uprising has been suppressed.”^【43】

During the post-coup attempt announcement; Hulusi Akar (left) and Binali Yıldırım (right) (AA)

Rescue of General Staff Chief Hulusi Akar

On the night of the coup attempt, General Staff Chief General Hulusi Akar was taken hostage by coup plotters and transported to Akıncı Air Base. There, he was pressured to sign the coup declaration but refused. He was rescued during a military operation in the early morning hours.

^【44】

Surrender and Arrests of Coup Plotters

Following the failed coup attempt on the night of July 15, a widespread process of surrender and arrest began across Türkiye. Critical institutions were cleared of coup plotters through the intervention of security forces and loyal military units, and many clashes came to an end. Coup plotters stationed at the General Staff Headquarters, the Grand National Assembly, the Presidency Complex, and other key locations surrendered their weapons by early morning.

^【45】

In operations launched nationwide, tens of thousands of soldiers directly involved in the coup attempt were taken into custody. In particular, officers stationed at the Akıncı Base in Ankara, the Army Aviation Command, and various barracks in Istanbul, along with former Air Force Commander General Akın Öztürk, were arrested on grounds of directing the coup attempt.^【46】

Social and Political Consequences

Following the 15 July coup attempt, a brief atmosphere of consensus emerged between Turkey’s political polarizations, with the Yenikapı Rally serving as its symbol. Comprehensive judicial proceedings were initiated against FETÖ, and large-scale purges were carried out across public institutions. At the societal level, “Democracy Watches” and commemorative events made the public’s resistance visibly mass-based and symbolic; 15 July was institutionalized in official memory as “Democracy and National Unity Day.”

The Yenikapı Rally and Political Unity

After the 15 July coup attempt, an atmosphere of unity emerged among political parties across Turkey.^【47】 The most symbolic expression of this unity was the “Democracy and Martyrs Rally” held on 7 August 2016 at Yenikapı Square in Istanbul. The rally, held under the auspices of the Presidency, was attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Speaker of the Grand National Assembly İsmail Kahraman, Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım, CHP General Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, and MHP General Chairman Devlet Bahçeli. The HDP was not invited. With the participation of millions of citizens, the rally represented a broad public and political expression of resistance to the coup. Different political orientations exhibited temporary solidarity based on their commitment to the constitutional order in the face of the coup attempt.

Democracy and Martyrs Rally AA)

Investigations and Trials Targeting the FETÖ Structure

Following the coup attempt, comprehensive judicial and administrative investigations were launched against the Fetullahist Terror Organization (FETÖ). Numerous individuals in public institutions were dismissed, expelled, or arrested. A total of 36,176 personnel were removed from duty, including 30,615 from the General Directorate of Security and 5,561 from the Gendarmerie General Command. Operations targeting FETÖ’s presence within the Turkish Armed Forces, judiciary, and public administration evolved into a large-scale restructuring process supported by decrees with the force of law.^【48】

The most prominent trial among those initiated was the case concerning the Akıncı (Mürted) Air Base, the central hub of the coup attempt. In this case, it was established that Kemal Batmaz, described by the organization as its “air force imam,” was present at the Akıncı Base on the night of 15 July.^【49】 In addition to Batmaz, former Air Force Commander Akın Öztürk, Harun Biniş, Hakan Çiçek, Nurettin Oruç, and Yakup Taş were tried and sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment on grounds of actively participating in and directing the coup.^【50】

Additionally, Adil Öksüz, identified as a civilian responsible for the organization, was apprehended at the Akıncı Base on the night of 15 July. However, he was released by the court that ordered his release, later disappeared, and a warrant for his arrest was subsequently issued.^【51】 Investigations were deepened to reveal FETÖ’s civil-military connections and hierarchical structure.^【52】

Democracy Watches

Begun immediately after President Erdoğan’s first call on the night of 15 July and lasting for weeks, the “Democracy Watches” took place across Turkey with widespread public participation.^【53】 Especially in major cities such as Istanbul, Ankara, and İzmir, as well as numerous locations across Anatolia, public squares were filled as citizens gathered to express support for the constitutional order and the legitimate government. These watches continued for some time after the failure of the coup attempt and were concluded in early August 2016. The process was regarded as a symbolic manifestation of civil resistance.

Impact on the Economy and Tourism

In the short term, the Turkish economy experienced volatility following 15 July.^【54】 In response to sudden fluctuations in economic indicators, the government implemented various measures, and the Central Bank injected liquidity into the market. The tourism sector suffered a brief decline due to political uncertainty following the coup attempt.^【55】 However, recovery was observed in the following months.

Amnesty International’s Allegations and the Government’s Response

Amnesty International, in a report dated 24 July 2016, alleged that some individuals taken into custody after the coup attempt had been subjected to mistreatment. Turkish authorities rejected these claims, stating that all procedures conducted were grounded in legal frameworks and adhered to the principle of fair trial.^【56】