Possible Coup In Turkey

From Sky News

LIVE Stream: Military Coup In Turkey Is Underway (7-15-16)



Unconfirmed reports of a military helicopter attacking police headquarters.

Watching Al Jazeera live and you can hear gunfire in Istanbul

Jets and helicopters fly overhead in Turkish capital of Ankara, as military closes two major bridges in Istanbul.

Turkey's military has officially declared a coup and said that it has "taken control of the country", shutting down major bridges and Istanbul's main airport.

The Dogan agency quoted the military on Friday as saying, that it wants "to reinstall the constitutional order, democracy, human rights and freedoms, to ensure that the rule of law once again reigns in the country, for the law and order to be reinstated."

The military statement went on to say that "all international agreements and commitments will remain. We pledge that good relations with all world countries will continue."

Turkey army group announces takeover on TV

An army group in Turkey says it has taken control of the country, with bridges closed in Istanbul and aircraft flying low over Ankara.

PM Binali Yildirim earlier denounced an "illegal action" by a military "group", stressing it was not a coup. He said that the government remained in charge.

Traffic has been stopped from crossing both the Bosphorus and Fatih Sultan Mehmet bridges in Istanbul.

There are reports of gunshots in the capital Ankara.

Other reports said soldiers were inside buildings of the Turkish state broadcaster in Ankara.

Gunfire was also heard outside Istanbul police HQ and tanks are said to be stationed outside Istanbul airport. All flights are cancelled, reports say.

President Erdogan has been accused of supporting ISIS by allowing foreign fighters to transit the country. The U.S. reached an agreement with the Erdogan government  for use of its base in the country to attacks ISIS strongholds in Syria and that Turkish military units would lend support. Instead the Turkish military attacked the Kurds in Southeast Turkey and Iraq.

What's behind Turkey's renewed crackdown on Kurds?

Rights groups are warning of rising casualties in Turkey's campaign against fighters.


Just a few months ago, Turkish Kurds had hope for a political solution to their ongoing disagreements with the government.

They had won seats in parliament and later this week, the pro-Kurdish party the HDP was to meet with Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. That meeting was then cancelled.

The ongoing operations against Kurdish fighters leaves no sign of a likely return to what many have described as a peace process. The political engagement has turned into a military one.

Why the about-face? And will the Turkish government and the Kurds ever find a way to interact without violence?

Has Turkey bitten off more than it can chew?

Turkey is now embroiled in two very different battles at the same time.


Turkey is now fighting two very different battles at the same time.

Turkish fighter jets have been hitting PKK positions in Iraq for days.

The Kurdish PKK has been fighting for greater autonomy within Turkey for 30 years, and more than 40,000 Turkish and Kurdish soldiers and civilians have died during the struggle.

Between 30 and 40 million Kurds live in adjoining regions of Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria.

Meanwhile, at the same time, Turkey is now also bombing ISIL bases in Syria.

The conflicts become complicated when you take into account the group at the forefront of the international fight against ISIL is another Kurdish group, the YPG.