ANKARA — Retired Lieutenant General Zekai Aksakallı, a prominent figure in recent Turkish military history, spoke out during a television appearance on CNN Türk regarding regional defense dynamics and the growth of Türkiye’s military-industrial complex.
Aksakallı gained national recognition during the July 15, 2016 coup attempt when, as Commander of the Special Forces, he ordered Senior Sergeant Ömer Halisdemir to shoot Brigadier General Semih Terzi—a key FETÖ plotter attempting to seize the Special Forces Command.
During his broadcast interview, Aksakallı addressed current Middle Eastern geopolitics and assessed regional military power balances, dismissing comparisons between Turkish military strength and Israel.
“Israel does not have the capacity to compete with us. We are not like other countries,” Aksakallı stated.
Reflecting on his 26-year career in conflict zones—which included serving as field commander during Operation Euphrates Shield—Aksakallı emphasized the transformation of the Turkish Armed Forces and domestic defense manufacturing.
“I spent approximately 26 years in these conflict and crisis environments, starting as a first lieutenant. I fought in every region,” Aksakallı remarked. “When we first started, we had nothing — just a rifle and an old pair of binoculars. We could not even have imagined the level we have reached in the defense industry today.”