Erdoğan orders F-16 patrol flights across Turkey

ISTANBUL - Anadolu Agency

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan instructed military combat planes to conduct patrols across Turkey on July 17, two days after F-16s and choppers flew above the country in a failed coup attempt.

The patrol flights are being conducted for airspace control and security purposes as per Erdoğan’s instructions.

F-16 combat jets were used by coup leaders late on July 15 and on the morning of July 16 to attack the parliament building and near the presidential complex.    

Meanwhile, Istanbul Security General Directorate head Mustafa Çalışkan also urged security forces to down any unidentified helicopters without warning.

Rogue military elements made a “vile” attempt to overthrow Turkey’s democratically elected government, according to Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım, causing the deaths of at least 164 individuals in the ensuing violence.        
Some 2,839 military personnel linked to the coup attempt were detained, and 20 pro-coup soldiers, including senior officers, were killed.        

An Ankara court also decided late on July 18 to arrest 19 military personnel, including the Commander of Akıncı 4th Main Jet Base, Brig. Gen. Hakan Evrim; Northern Istanbul Naval Area Commander Vice Adm. Ömer Faruk Harmancık, and pilot Staff Lt. Col. Murat Karakuş on coup attempt charges.