Turkey’s Special Forces commander visits troops on Syrian border

The commanding officer of Turkey’s Special Forces, Major General Zekai Aksakallı, visited troops stationed in the border province of Kilis on Sunday. The general and his delegation went to the Öncüpınar Gate on the border with Syria where the troops are based and was briefed on developments.

The visit comes at a time when Turkish troops were reinforced on the border in preparation for a possible operation planned by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to create a buffer zone inside Syrian territory.

In a related move, Erdogan appointed his close aide Vecdi Gönül as defence minister, after İsmet Yılmaz left the role to take up the post of parliamentary speaker on Wednesday. It is believed that Gönül was chosen in coordination with Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, who agreed to the appointment, although Gönül is not a parliamentarian.

Observers feel that Gönül’s appointment will increase the pressure on the army’s Chief of Staff, General Necdet Ozal, to implement the buffer zone plan, which he believes requires a government that enjoys a parliamentary majority.