Turkey Cracks Down Again: 63 Active-Duty Officers Targeted in Latest FETÖ Operation

In a sweeping operation that underscores Turkey’s enduring crackdown on the Gülen movement, authorities have issued arrest warrants for 63 active-duty military personnel accused of affiliation with the group Ankara holds responsible for the 2016 failed coup attempt. The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office announced that the arrests, conducted in 36 provinces, resulted in the detention of 56 individuals, including high-ranking officers from various branches of the Turkish Armed Forces.

Simultaneous Raids Signal Persistent National Security Concerns

The operations, carried out at 6 a.m. local time, were the result of a months-long investigation into suspected ties between military personnel and the movement officially labeled by Turkish authorities as the “Fethullahist Terrorist Organisation/Parallel State Structure” (FETÖ/PDY). The suspects were identified through analysis of phone communication records, a method frequently used in previous purges since the 2016 coup.

Among those detained are four colonels, eight lieutenant colonels, 12 majors, 15 captains, and 24 non-commissioned officers. The individuals hail from the air force (8), navy (6), gendarmerie (13), and land forces (36). The prosecutor’s office emphasized the seriousness of the threat, describing FETÖ as “the biggest threat to the constitutional order and survival of the state.”

A Coup Attempt That Shook the Republic

The July 15, 2016, coup attempt remains one of the most traumatic events in Turkey’s recent history. On that night, rogue military factions bombed key government institutions in Ankara and Istanbul, including the Turkish Parliament and the presidential palace. Then-President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, vacationing in Marmaris at the time, narrowly escaped an assassination attempt. Nearly 300 people were killed during the chaos.

Since then, the Turkish government has pursued an aggressive campaign against individuals and institutions suspected of ties to the Gülen movement. Over 25,000 military personnel have been detained in connection with the coup attempt. These detentions are part of broader purges that have seen tens of thousands of civil servants, academics, and journalists dismissed or jailed.

High-Ranking Officers Among the Detained

The breadth and depth of this crackdown are notable. Among the 63 suspects are:

• Four colonels
• Eight lieutenant colonels
• Twelve majors
• Fifteen captains
• Twenty-four non-commissioned officers

These individuals span all branches of the military, including:

• Eight from the Air Force
• Thirteen from the Gendarmerie General Command
• Thirty-six from the Land Forces
• Six from the Navy

FETÖ's Alleged Deep-State Network

The Gülen movement, founded by Islamic cleric Fethullah Gülen—who lived in self-imposed exile in the United States from 1999 until his death in October 2024—was once closely aligned with Turkey’s ruling AK Party. However, relations soured dramatically in 2013 when a corruption investigation allegedly led by Gülen-affiliated prosecutors implicated high-ranking government officials. President Erdoğan denounced the probe as a judicial coup attempt, marking the beginning of an intense rift.

Since 2013, Turkish authorities have accused FETÖ of orchestrating a clandestine infiltration of state institutions, including the military, judiciary, and police. The group has been implicated in multiple criminal cases, including academic assassinations and leaking national exam questions. Its influence, officials argue, remains deeply embedded in the state’s fabric—despite widespread purges.

A Legacy of Controversy and Alleged Injustice

Critics, however, have questioned the consistency and fairness of Turkey’s post-coup purges. While some high-level figures allegedly tied to FETÖ have avoided serious consequences, many low-ranking employees, school teachers, and civil servants have faced long prison terms or professional ruin.

Former AK Party MP Şamil Tayyar once claimed the existence of a “FETÖ stock exchange,” alleging that businessmen could buy their freedom through bribes disguised as cooperation with authorities. “There are millions of dollars involved,” Tayyar stated. “They’re releasing businessmen under the guise of being informants. This is happening all over Turkey.”

Such statements have fueled accusations that the crackdown has been selectively enforced, with political motives driving many of the decisions.

The Crackdown Continues

The Istanbul prosecutor’s office insists that FETÖ remains an existential threat, noting that more military personnel with ties to the movement remain undetected than those who participated directly in the 2016 coup. Friday’s arrests are part of ongoing efforts to eradicate the group’s influence and protect the integrity of Turkey’s state institutions.

“The arrest and detention of 63 suspects in Istanbul and 35 other cities was launched simultaneously… in accordance with instructions given to the Istanbul Police Anti-Terror Branch Directorate,” the prosecutor’s statement read. “We will keep you informed of further developments.”

As Turkey gears up for another pivotal election cycle, the crackdown on FETÖ-linked elements continues to shape both domestic politics and international perceptions of the country’s judicial independence. Whether these operations bring genuine stability or further controversy remains a subject of deep national and global interest.