Turkish special forces commander Zekai Aksakallı in Syria’s Jarablus

ISTANBUL

Turkey's Special Forces commander, Lieutenant General Zekai Aksakallı, has made inspections in Jarablus, which was captured from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) by Ankara-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters in a joint operation with the U.S.-led coalition on Aug. 24.

Lt. Gen. Aksakallı also held a meeting in Jarablus with leaders of the opposition forces. 
Aksakallı was recently promoted to this rank by the Supreme Military Council (YAŞ), chaired by Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım, in its first meeting since the failed coup attempt of July 15.

Aksakallı, in his former capacity as major general, played a key role in the defeat of the attempted coup after realizing that his deputy, Brigadier General Salih Terzi, was an active member of the junta.