Turkey marks nine years on Tuesday since President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government overcame the military coup that threatened his rule. Now, it appears that at least some of his supporters believe they have identified the "real culprit" behind the upheaval that rocked the nation.
In its special anniversary edition, Türkiye, a newspaper known for its unwavering support of the Erdogan administration, ran a front-page headline declaring, without a hint of irony, that Israel had masterminded the failed coup. "The July 15 coup was an Israeli occupation attempt," the banner headline read.
The subhead elaborated for readers: "As with all coups, it was the Zionists who stood behind the betrayal of the Fethullah Gülen terrorist organization. This time, their goal was to physically conquer Turkey."
Despite the dramatic claims, the newspaper presented no proof of Israeli involvement in the coup. The issue contained mostly anti-Israel opinion pieces and attacks on the late Fethullah Gülen, the exiled opposition figure blamed by Ankara for the coup attempt, which was carried out by military elements.
A failed coup that left 300 dead
On the night of July 15, 2016, just before midnight, a faction within the Turkish military launched a coup against Erdogan, who at the time was vacationing in Marmaris. The plotters identified themselves as the "Peace at Home Council" and claimed their aim was to restore a secular and democratic constitution in Turkey.
The council cited concerns over the erosion of secularism, the dismantling of democracy, human rights abuses, and Turkey's diminishing credibility on the world stage. The mutineers attempted to seize control of key sites in Ankara, Istanbul, and other locations. Turkey's government accused the Gülen movement of masterminding the coup, a claim Gülen denied, instead accusing the Turkish authorities of staging the event themselves.
The coup collapsed within hours but left at least 300 people dead and more than 2,100 wounded.
In its aftermath, Erdogan launched a sweeping crackdown, arresting more than 40,000 suspects, including 10,000 soldiers and 2,745 judges. Additionally, 15,000 educators were suspended and the licenses of 21,000 teachers were revoked. The event was widely condemned by the international community, but domestically, it served to significantly bolster Erdogan's grip on power.
