ANKARA — Turkey’s state-run news agency says authorities have issued detention warrants for six generals and scores of other military personnel as part of an ongoing investigation into the July 15 failed coup.
Anadolu Agency says the warrants were issued by the Istanbul chief prosecutor’s office on Thursday.
Turkey accuses US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen of orchestrating the coup attempt that led to more than 270 deaths and has launched a sweeping crackdown on his followers.
Close to 5,000 military personnel have been dismissed since the coup, including 151 generals and admirals.
Nearly 43,000 people overall have been dismissed from government jobs. Tens of thousands of people have been detained for questioning and more than 17,000 — including soldiers, police, judges and journalists— have been formally arrested to face trial.
The chief prosecutor’s office in Ankara launched an investigation into 105 suspected leaders of cells in 17 provinces said to be responsible for military personnel in what authorities have dubbed the “Gulenist Terrorist Organization” (FETO), the state-run Anadolu Agency said.
The Defense Ministry said on Wednesday a further 73 members of the air force had been expelled over suspected ties to Gulen.
Turkish shelling kills six members of Kurdish force in Syria.
Turkish army shelling killed six members of the Kurdish security forces in an area of northwestern Syria controlled by Kurdish groups overnight, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.
The Afrin region of northwestern Syria is controlled by the Kurdish YPG militia which holds swathes of northern Syria.
Turkey last month launched an incursion into northern Syria in an area some 100 km (60 miles) east of Afrin to stop further expansion of YPG territory and to drive Daesh from the border.
A statement issued by the Kurdish authorities in Afrin said the attack was a provocation by the Turkish army to “ignite the fire of war.” “We will carry out the appropriate response ... if these type of attacks are repeated,” the statement said.
