May 20, 2013
The week's top five must-sees,
delivered to your inbox.
Features include interactive map, in-depth stories, and more.
Download now. »
The week's top five must-sees,
delivered to your inbox.
|
Description
The Turkish Army or Turkish Land Forces is the main branch of the Turkish Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The modern history of the army began with its formation after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. Significant events since the foundation of the Army include combat in the Korean War and in the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, and acting as a NATO bulwark along Cold War frontiers through 1992. Today, in terms of personnel, the Turkish Army is the second-largest standing army in NATO with 402,000 active troops.
The army holds the preeminent place within the armed forces. It is customary for the Chief of the General Staff of the Republic of Turkey to have been the Commander of the Turkish Land Forces prior to his appointment as Turkey's senior ranking officer. Alongside the other two armed services, the Turkish Army has frequently intervened in Turkish politics, which has now been regulated to an extent with the reform of the National Security Council. The current commander of the Turkish Land Forces is General Hayri Kıvrıkoğlu.
(via Freebase)
|
![Syrian army sends reinforcements after rebels seize key town [New TV, Lebanon]](/images/image_cache/base-11976000/11976216/thumbnail.width=304,height=171,grow=1,crop=center.jpg?sig=591ecbdded25fcb7ee36b7c95de0a4d6)
![Turkey launches major operation against suspected Kurdish militants [Al-Alam, Iran]](/images/image_cache/base-9920000/9920246/thumbnail.width=304,height=171,grow=1,crop=center.jpg?sig=b2959f894b2d8699ef695d7e833b54b6 "Reuters/Ihlas News Agency")
![Free Syrian Army claims advances in Aleppo as Turkey conducts military drills at border [Future TV, Lebanon]](/images/image_cache/base-8082000/8082669/thumbnail.width=304,height=171,grow=1,crop=center.jpg?sig=ea36ba6080d2a3dfc5e1789c5427197d "A member of the Free Syrian Army flashes the victory sign on a captured tank after taking control of a checkpoint from government forces in Anadan, north Aleppo, July 31, 2012. REUTERS/Obeida Al Naimi")
![Turkey deploys troops, anti-aircraft guns on Syrian border [Press TV, Iran]](/images/image_cache/base-6381000/6381548/thumbnail.width=304,height=171,grow=1,crop=center.jpg?sig=5d42df42983b412e668b34a2a4ac3d4e)
![Turkish airstrike kills 35 Kurdish civilians near Iraqi border [Al-Alam, Iran]](/images/image_cache/base-313000/313456/thumbnail.width=304,height=171,grow=1,crop=center.jpg?sig=a30a510e90f4bd9564540d7c0c1fff0e "Reuters / Stringer")
