Number of Turkish Soldiers Falls Drastically After Attempted Coup
19:42 05.10.2016
The number of army personnel in the Turkish military has been reduced drastically due to a series of dismissals following the failed coup attempt in July, media reported on Wednesday.
MOSCOW (Sputnik) – According to Hurriyet daily news, the number of military personnel has fallen from 518,166 two weeks before the attempted coup to a total of 355,212 currently.
In July 15, a coup attempt took place in Turkey and was suppressed the following morning. Approximately 26,000 people have been arrested since the attempted overthrow of the Turkish government that led to over 260 deaths. Officials alleged that self-exiled Turkish Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, who Ankara believes is seeking to overthrow the current government, was linked to the thwarted coup.
Thousands of military officers, high-ranking civil servants, judges and teachers suspected of being Gulen supporters have been detained or sacked in Turkey after the failed coup attempt.
© Sputnik
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