On Saturday, the Turkish government under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan successfully suppressed an attempted coup by Turkish military officials. The rebellious faction of the military attacked government institutions and clashed with police and Erdogan-supporting civilians in the streets, killing 265 people including 100 coup plotters. 2,800 members of the Turkish military have been arrested.
Clothes, weapons and tanks are abandoned on the Bosporus Bridge in Istanbul. (Gokhan Tan/Getty Images)
Ten members of Turkey’s highest administrative court have been detained, apparently for their alleged links to Fethullah Gulen, an Islamic scholar living in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania. The rebellious officers were Gulen’s followers, according to Erdogan, who blames Gulen for the attempted coup. Arrest warrants have also been issued for nearly 200 other court members, according to Turkey’s state-run news agency.
[ Fethullah Gulen: The Islamic scholar Turkey blames for the failed coup]
How Friday’s events unfolded
RUSSIA
Black Sea
Istanbul
Ankara
TURKEY
Incirlik
Air Base
SYRIA
IRAQ
200 MILES
ROMANIA
RUSSIA
Istanbul
Grozny
Protesters confronted tanks in the streets of the city.
Black Sea
GEORGIA
Ankara
Branches of the police and army fought pitched battles for control of government buildings.
TURKEY
Izmir
IRAN
Incirlik
Air Base
Crete
(Greece)
Marmaris
Mosul
Erdogan had been
visiting a coastal resort in this
city when the coup was launched.
He later flew to Istanbul.
Aleppo
SYRIA
IRAQ
Damascus
Mediterranean Sea
100 MILES
Crimean
Peninsula
ROMANIA
Bucharest
RUSSIA
Caspian
Sea
Grozny
Istanbul
Sofia
Black Sea
Protesters confronted tanks in the streets of the city.
BULGARIA
GEORGIA
Tbilisi
Ankara
Baku
Branches of the police and army fought pitched battles for control of government buildings.
AZERB.
ARMENIA
Yerevan
GREECE
TURKEY
Izmir
Tabriz
Athens
Incirlik
Air Base
IRAN
Gaziantep
Mosul
Marmaris
Aleppo
Erbil
Crete
Erdogan had been
visiting a coastal resort in this
city when the coup was launched.
He later flew to Istanbul.
SYRIA
IRAQ
LEBANON
Baghdad
Mediterranean Sea
100
0
Beirut
Damascus
MILES
Turkish airspace was closed as armed helicopters fired on government buildings. The military swarmed offices of several major media organizations including CNN Turk, which went off the air.
[ Turkey’s increasingly desperate predicament poses real dangers]
Members of Turkey's military have overrun the offices of several major media organizations, including CNN Turk, which went off air. Turkey’s military launched a coup against the elected government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan setting off a violent struggle between the nation’s military and civilian leaders. (CNN Turk)
What happened in Istanbul and Ankara
Armored tanks were deployed across key areas of both cities. More than 100 plotters were killed during the coup attempt, along with at least 161 civilians and police as they battled military renegade factions for control of other state buildings. A lawmaker died in Ankara, the Turkish capital, when the parliament was bombed by a helicopter. A senior Turkish official said an F-16 jet shot down a helicopter that had been hijacked by coup leaders. More than 1,400 others were wounded.
Turkish politician Ayse Sula Koseoglu was broadcasting live on Periscope the moment a blast rocked the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) in Ankara in the early hours of July 16. (Periscope/aysesula)
In Istanbul’s Taksim Square, where government supporters had gathered, police and military exchanged fire and a loud explosion was reported.
0
4
MILES
Fatih Sultan
Mehmet Bridge
Taksim
Square
Istanbul
Ataturk
Airport
Bosporus
Bridge
Sea of
Marmara
Aegean Sea
KEÇIÖREN
KARDELEN
Ankara
ÇANKAYA
parliament
ALACAATLI
0
2
MILES
0
4
MILES
KEÇIÖREN
KARDELEN
Fatih Sultan
Mehmet Bridge
Ankara
Istanbul
ÇANKAYA
Taksim
Square
parliament
Bosporus
Bridge
Ataturk
Airport
ALACAATLI
Sea of
Marmara
0
2
MILES
0
4
MILES
KEÇIÖREN
KARDELEN
Fatih Sultan
Mehmet Bridge
Ankara
Istanbul
Taksim
Square
ÇANKAYA
Bosporus
Bridge
parliament
Ataturk
Airport
ALACAATLI
Sea of
Marmara
0
2
MILES
The city’s Bosporus Bridge and the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge were closed by the military. Erdogan flew from Marmaris, where he was vacationing, to Ataturk Airport. The airport had been briefly taken over, but thousands of Erdogan supporters gathered to oust the coup participants.
Turkey’s government defeated the coup attempt, reasserting control Saturday after hours of chaos and clashes. By early afternoon, the two bridges were reopened and traffic began to move again on the streets that were filled with gunfire, explosions and violent confrontations overnight.
Turkish soldiers and supporters of Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan protest in Istanbul's Taksim Square. (Emrah Gurel/AP)
People carry a man shot during clashes with Turkish military at the entrance to the Bosporus Bridge in Istanbul. (Bulent Kilic/Agence France-Presse via Getty Images)
What this means for the U.S.
The coup attempt has further destabilized Turkey, a member of NATO and one of the few U.S. allies in the Middle East. The country is already at war with Kurdish militants and is part of the U.S.-led coalition fighting the Islamic State. Turkey allows U.S. forces to use Incirlik Air Base to stage bombing raids in Syria, and Pentagon officials said it is not clear how the coup will affect U.S. operations. Turkey is an important partner of the European Union as well.
Total active military personnel in 2015,
in thousands
U.S.
TURKEY
FRANCE
GERMANY
ITALY
U.K.
1,311
426
207
182
180
163
Total active military personnel in 2015, in thousands
U.S.
TURKEY
FRANCE
GERMANY
ITALY
U.K.
1,311
426
207
182
180
163
Turkish government sees broad international support
The Turkish military has long been seen as the guarantor of democracy in Turkey, reigning in overreaches by Erdogan, who critics say had grown increasingly authoritarian. Yet following last night’s attempted coup, numerous countries’ and international organizations’ officials voiced support for the sitting Turkish government, condemning the uprising. You can see many of their statements below.
United States
President Obama and Secretary of State John F. Kerry — “The President and Secretary agreed that all parties in Turkey should support the democratically-elected government of Turkey, show restraint, and avoid any violence or bloodshed,” according to a statement released by the White House.
NATO
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg — He welcomed “the strong support shown by the people and all political parties to democracy and to the democratically elected gov of Turkey.”
European Union
European Council President Donald Tusk — “The EU fully supports the democratically elected government, the institutions of the country and the rule of law.”
Germany
Chancellor Angela Merkel — “The democratic order in Turkey must be respected and all must be done to protect lives,” according to a tweet from Merkel’s spokesman.
United Kingdom
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson — He said he was “very concerned about the situation unfolding.”
France
Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault — “The Turkish population showed its maturity and courage by committing to the respect of its institutions. It paid the price with many victims. … Democracy will emerge strengthened.”
Russia
Foreign Ministry — “The aggravating political situation against the backdrop of existing terrorist threats in this country and an armed conflict in the region pose increased danger to international and regional stability.”
Canada
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau — “Canada supports the preservation of Turkish democracy, and condemns any attempt to subvert Turkey's democratic institutions by force of arms.”
Iran
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif — He is “deeply concerned about the crisis in Turkey. Stability, democracy and safety of Turkish people are paramount,” he said in a tweet. “Turkish people's brave defense of democracy and their elected government proves that coups have no place in our region and are doomed to fail.”
Saudi Arabia
An unnamed official — “The source expressed the kingdom's welcome that things are returned to normal led by his Excellency President Tayyip Erdogan and his elected government and in line with the constitutional legitimacy and the will of the Turkish people,” according to the state news service.
Israel
Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon — “Israel respects the democratic process in Turkey and looks forward to the continuation of the reconciliation process between Turkey and Israel.”
Qatar
Sheik Tamim Bin Hamad al-Thani — He “congratulated [Erdogan] on the support of the people of Turkey on his rule against the failed military coup,” according to the state news agency.
Gaza
Islamist Hamas rulers — They “condemned the failed coup attempt” and “congratulated the people and the Turkish leadership for successfully protecting democracy.”
A history of military coups
The Republic of Turkey was founded in 1923. Led by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the country’s first president, leaders began changes to promote a secular government and society. Traditional religious schools were closed. Fez hats for men were outlawed and veils for women discouraged. Language moved to a new, Latin-based alphabet. A provision making Islam the official religion was removed from the constitution.
From the republic’s beginning, military leaders saw their role as protecting Turkey from threats from outside and from within the country. That view, civil unrest, economic crisis and the rise of Islamist politics collided in a series of coups starting in the mid 20th century.
[ Turkey’s Erdogan always feared a coup. He was proved right.]
Republic of Turkey is founded
1923
Second Republic
Following violent protests, the military overthrew the government, Prime Minister Adnan Menderes was executed and a new constitution created the country’s second
republic.
Coup by memorandum
With Turkey gripped by widespread strikes, political violence and terrorism, military leaders warned that they were ready to take over the government, and the government resigned.
1960
1971
1980
The third coup
Violence, food and fuel shortages and government gridlock raised the specter of civil war. Armed forces seized control with no resistance, but persecution of the left and suspension of liberties ensued.
1997
2016
Soft coup
Military leaders warned the government of the consequences of tilting toward Islamist policies. The coalition government, which included an Islamist party, stepped down.
From the republic’s beginning, military leaders saw their role as protecting Turkey from threats from both outside and from within the country. That view, civil unrest, economic crisis and the rise of Islamist politics collided in a series of coups starting in the mid Twentieth Century.
Republic of Turkey is founded
1960
1971
1980
1997
2016
1923
Second Republic
Years of growing polarization led to violent protests. The military overthrew the government of Prime Minister Adnan Menderes, and he was executed. A new constitution created the country’s second republic.
Coup by
memorandum
With Turkey gripped by widespread strikes, political violence and terrorism, military leaders warned that they were ready to take over the government, and the government resigned.
The third coup
Violence, food and fuel shortages and government gridlock raised the specter of civil war. Armed forces seized control with no resistance, but persecution of the left and suspension of liberties ensued.
Soft coup
Military leaders warned the government of the consequences of tilting toward Islamist policies. The coalition government, which included an Islamist party, stepped down.
1923
1960
1971
1980
1997
2016
Second Republic
Years of growing polarization led to violent protests. The military overthrew the government of Prime Minister Adnan Menderes, and he was executed. A new constitution created the country’s second republic.
Coup by memorandum
With Turkey gripped by widespread strikes, political violence and terrorism, military leaders warned that they were ready to take over the government, and the government resigned.
The third coup
Violence, food and fuel shortages and government gridlock raised the specter of civil war. Armed forces seized control with no resistance, but persecution of the left and suspension of liberties ensued.
Soft coup
Military leaders warned the government of the consequences of tilting toward Islamist policies. The coalition government, which included an Islamist party, stepped down.
Republic of Turkey is founded
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