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| Turkey Captures Soldiers Accused of Trying to Kill or Kidnap Erdogan | Turkey Captures Soldiers Accused of Trying to Kill or Kidnap Erdogan |
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| ISTANBUL — Turkish forces flying attack helicopters and drones raided a forested area in southwestern Turkey overnight, capturing a fugitive unit of commandos who had tried to assassinate or kidnap President Recep Tayyip Erdogan last month during a coup attempt, Turkish officials said on Monday. | ISTANBUL — Turkish forces flying attack helicopters and drones raided a forested area in southwestern Turkey overnight, capturing a fugitive unit of commandos who had tried to assassinate or kidnap President Recep Tayyip Erdogan last month during a coup attempt, Turkish officials said on Monday. |
| The commandos, who joined a conspiracy initiated by a rebel faction of the military to topple the government, had been on the run since early on July 16, when they assaulted a seaside hotel in Marmaris where Mr. Erdogan had been vacationing. | The commandos, who joined a conspiracy initiated by a rebel faction of the military to topple the government, had been on the run since early on July 16, when they assaulted a seaside hotel in Marmaris where Mr. Erdogan had been vacationing. |
| The president slipped away just before the commandos’ helicopters arrived, however, in one of the most dramatic events in a long night of violence that ultimately failed to topple the government but that left more than 250 people dead. | The president slipped away just before the commandos’ helicopters arrived, however, in one of the most dramatic events in a long night of violence that ultimately failed to topple the government but that left more than 250 people dead. |
| Residents in the Marmaris area played a role in capturing the fugitive commandos, spotting them while out boar-hunting and quickly alerting the authorities. | |
| Mr. Erdogan’s ability to evade his captors was decisive in the coup’s failure, enabling him to rally his supporters, in a speech delivered over his iPhone’s FaceTime app, to oppose renegade military units. Later, he flew to Istanbul, where his arrival provided the surest sign that the coup would ultimately fail. | Mr. Erdogan’s ability to evade his captors was decisive in the coup’s failure, enabling him to rally his supporters, in a speech delivered over his iPhone’s FaceTime app, to oppose renegade military units. Later, he flew to Istanbul, where his arrival provided the surest sign that the coup would ultimately fail. |
| In the overnight raid, special forces captured 11 commandos thought to have been part of the plot against Mr. Erdogan’s life, although one suspect is still at large, Turkey’s deputy prime minister, Numan Kurtulmus, said in a news conference on Monday. | In the overnight raid, special forces captured 11 commandos thought to have been part of the plot against Mr. Erdogan’s life, although one suspect is still at large, Turkey’s deputy prime minister, Numan Kurtulmus, said in a news conference on Monday. |
| The capture of the commandos came as Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, visited the Turkish capital, Ankara, on Monday to assure Turkey that the United States was against the coup attempt and to discuss the countries’ joint fight against Islamic State militants. | The capture of the commandos came as Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, visited the Turkish capital, Ankara, on Monday to assure Turkey that the United States was against the coup attempt and to discuss the countries’ joint fight against Islamic State militants. |
| General Dunford’s visit aimed to cool tensions fanned by some Turkish officials and pro-government commentators who had questioned whether the United States might somehow have supported the coup attempt, which President Obama has strongly denied. They have also demanded the extradition of Fethullah Gulen, a Muslim cleric in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania whom the Turkish authorities have accused of leading the botched coup. | General Dunford’s visit aimed to cool tensions fanned by some Turkish officials and pro-government commentators who had questioned whether the United States might somehow have supported the coup attempt, which President Obama has strongly denied. They have also demanded the extradition of Fethullah Gulen, a Muslim cleric in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania whom the Turkish authorities have accused of leading the botched coup. |
| General Dunford was scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Binali Yildirim and Gen. Hulusi Akar, the chief of general staff of the Turkish armed forces, and possibly with Mr. Erdogan. | General Dunford was scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Binali Yildirim and Gen. Hulusi Akar, the chief of general staff of the Turkish armed forces, and possibly with Mr. Erdogan. |
| “He will deliver messages condemning in the strongest possible terms the recent coup attempt and reaffirming the importance of our enduring partnership for regional stability,” Capt. Gregory L. Hicks, a spokesman for General Dunford, said in a statement. | “He will deliver messages condemning in the strongest possible terms the recent coup attempt and reaffirming the importance of our enduring partnership for regional stability,” Capt. Gregory L. Hicks, a spokesman for General Dunford, said in a statement. |
| Turkish officials have complained that European and American leaders have focused more on denouncing Mr. Erdogan’s post-coup purges of tens of thousands of people from state institutions and the private sector than on standing by Turkey as it put down the violent rebellion. | Turkish officials have complained that European and American leaders have focused more on denouncing Mr. Erdogan’s post-coup purges of tens of thousands of people from state institutions and the private sector than on standing by Turkey as it put down the violent rebellion. |
| Ankara was further annoyed when Mr. Erdogan was barred from addressing tens of thousands of Turks who gathered in Cologne, Germany, over the weekend to express support for the Turkish leadership. | Ankara was further annoyed when Mr. Erdogan was barred from addressing tens of thousands of Turks who gathered in Cologne, Germany, over the weekend to express support for the Turkish leadership. |
| American military and intelligence officials expressed concern last week about the impact that Turkey’s crackdown on the military could have on counterterrorism cooperation between the two countries. Of particular concern are the need to secure the border between Turkey and Syria, to prevent foreign fighters from joining Islamic State militants in the war-torn country, and joint operations against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. | American military and intelligence officials expressed concern last week about the impact that Turkey’s crackdown on the military could have on counterterrorism cooperation between the two countries. Of particular concern are the need to secure the border between Turkey and Syria, to prevent foreign fighters from joining Islamic State militants in the war-torn country, and joint operations against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. |
| When Gen. Joseph L. Votel, the leader of the United States Central Command, said last week that he was worried that the purge of Turkish officers, including many who had worked with the Americans, would undermine the fight against the Islamic State, Turkish officials reacted with alarm, saying the comments amounted to sympathy for the coup plotters. Among those arrested in connection with the uprising was the commander of the Incirlik Air Base in southern Turkey, a major staging area for United States Air Force operations against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria. | When Gen. Joseph L. Votel, the leader of the United States Central Command, said last week that he was worried that the purge of Turkish officers, including many who had worked with the Americans, would undermine the fight against the Islamic State, Turkish officials reacted with alarm, saying the comments amounted to sympathy for the coup plotters. Among those arrested in connection with the uprising was the commander of the Incirlik Air Base in southern Turkey, a major staging area for United States Air Force operations against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria. |
| Mr. Erdogan, speaking to reporters recently in Ankara, referred to General Votel’s comments without mentioning him by name: “Who are you? You have got to know your place. Instead of thanking this government for thwarting this coup attempt and for maintaining democracy, you are standing by the putschists.” | Mr. Erdogan, speaking to reporters recently in Ankara, referred to General Votel’s comments without mentioning him by name: “Who are you? You have got to know your place. Instead of thanking this government for thwarting this coup attempt and for maintaining democracy, you are standing by the putschists.” |
| Almost immediately after the failed coup, Mr. Erdogan embarked on a wide-ranging purge of the military, arresting or dismissing thousands of officers and soldiers on suspicion of having taken a direct part or of having ties to Mr. Gulen. On Sunday, the president’s office announced that about 1,400 additional military personnel had been discharged, including Mr. Erdogan’s personal military aide. | Almost immediately after the failed coup, Mr. Erdogan embarked on a wide-ranging purge of the military, arresting or dismissing thousands of officers and soldiers on suspicion of having taken a direct part or of having ties to Mr. Gulen. On Sunday, the president’s office announced that about 1,400 additional military personnel had been discharged, including Mr. Erdogan’s personal military aide. |
| Over the weekend, Mr. Erdogan, operating under a three-month state of emergency that allows the president to enact laws without approval from Parliament, issued a decree that brings the military more fully under civilian control. | Over the weekend, Mr. Erdogan, operating under a three-month state of emergency that allows the president to enact laws without approval from Parliament, issued a decree that brings the military more fully under civilian control. |
| “We aim to prevent the armed forces from being used to stage another coup,” Mr. Kurtulmus told reporters on Monday. “The restructuring of the intelligence agencies is on the agenda, just like it was for the armed forces.” | “We aim to prevent the armed forces from being used to stage another coup,” Mr. Kurtulmus told reporters on Monday. “The restructuring of the intelligence agencies is on the agenda, just like it was for the armed forces.” |
| The decree essentially decentralized and diversified the chain of command, allowing the president or prime minister to issue direct orders to the heads of the army, navy and air force without going through the chief of the general staff, who on paper is the country’s top military officer. The move brings the military under the Ministry of Defense and allows the defense minister to issue orders, presumably after receiving them from either the president or prime minister. | The decree essentially decentralized and diversified the chain of command, allowing the president or prime minister to issue direct orders to the heads of the army, navy and air force without going through the chief of the general staff, who on paper is the country’s top military officer. The move brings the military under the Ministry of Defense and allows the defense minister to issue orders, presumably after receiving them from either the president or prime minister. |
| The move also adds more civilians, including deputy prime ministers and the justice, interior and foreign ministers, to the country’s supreme military council, which makes decisions about military personnel. | The move also adds more civilians, including deputy prime ministers and the justice, interior and foreign ministers, to the country’s supreme military council, which makes decisions about military personnel. |
| Mr. Erdogan has long sought to transform his office into an American-style executive one, which would require a change to Turkey’s Constitution, and there are signs that he is trying to capitalize on the botched coup to push forward this agenda. He has said in recent days that he wants to bring the country’s intelligence service and military under his control, and that he would submit legislation to Parliament. | Mr. Erdogan has long sought to transform his office into an American-style executive one, which would require a change to Turkey’s Constitution, and there are signs that he is trying to capitalize on the botched coup to push forward this agenda. He has said in recent days that he wants to bring the country’s intelligence service and military under his control, and that he would submit legislation to Parliament. |
| As Western leaders raise concerns that the crackdown is being carried out beyond the rule of law and is threatening democracy, they also worry about Turkey’s reliability as a partner in counterterrorism and in containing the flow of migrants into the European Union. | As Western leaders raise concerns that the crackdown is being carried out beyond the rule of law and is threatening democracy, they also worry about Turkey’s reliability as a partner in counterterrorism and in containing the flow of migrants into the European Union. |
| Since the failed coup, there has been a small but noticeable uptick in the number of migrants traveling across the Aegean Sea to Greece from Turkey, to about 100 a day from about 30, the Greek authorities say. It is not yet clear if the increase is related to Turkish security forces being stretched after the coup. | Since the failed coup, there has been a small but noticeable uptick in the number of migrants traveling across the Aegean Sea to Greece from Turkey, to about 100 a day from about 30, the Greek authorities say. It is not yet clear if the increase is related to Turkish security forces being stretched after the coup. |
| The European Union reached a deal with Turkey in March to try to ease the migrant crisis that has roiled the Continent. Under the accord, the bloc agreed to give Ankara billions of dollars in aid to help support refugees inside Turkey, and to allow visa-free travel inside the European Union for Turks. But since then, the two sides have not agreed on terms to relax visa restrictions, and Turkish officials have said that if such a deal cannot be reached by October, the entire pact could be in jeopardy. | The European Union reached a deal with Turkey in March to try to ease the migrant crisis that has roiled the Continent. Under the accord, the bloc agreed to give Ankara billions of dollars in aid to help support refugees inside Turkey, and to allow visa-free travel inside the European Union for Turks. But since then, the two sides have not agreed on terms to relax visa restrictions, and Turkish officials have said that if such a deal cannot be reached by October, the entire pact could be in jeopardy. |