2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt

A failed military uprising in Turkey on 15–16 July 2016 sought to overthrow President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's government. The government blamed followers of Fethullah Gülen, who denied involvement.

Turkish Armed Forces: Turkey's military, comprising land, naval, and air forces and other branches. Coup plotters drew on military personnel and units, but the armed forces did not act as one.
Fethullah Gülen: A Turkish Islamic preacher and leader of a transnational religious movement who lived in the United States from 1999. The Turkish government accused Gülen and his followers of orchestrating the coup; Gülen denied the charge.
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan: Turkey's president since 2014 and a central figure in the country's politics since the early 2000s. The coup targeted Erdoğan, who called on citizens to resist and returned to Istanbul that night.
State of emergency in Turkey (2016–2018): A state of emergency imposed across Turkey from July 2016 until July 2018. It gave the government broad powers during the post-coup investigations and purges.
Ankara: Turkey's capital and the seat of its national government. Military aircraft and forces targeted government institutions in the capital during the attempt.
Gülen movement: A transnational religious and social movement associated with Fethullah Gülen. Authorities described the alleged coup network as part of this movement, which rejects that characterization.
Binali Yıldırım: A Turkish politician who served as prime minister from 2016 to 2018. Yıldırım condemned the attempt as an unlawful uprising while the government organized its response.
2017 Turkish constitutional referendum: A 2017 referendum that approved constitutional amendments establishing an executive presidency in Turkey. The coup's aftermath formed the political setting for a narrow vote that expanded presidential powers.
Istanbul: Turkey's largest city, located on the Bosporus between Europe and Asia. Coup forces occupied bridges and other strategic sites in Istanbul.
Turkey–Gülen movement conflict: A political struggle between Turkey's governing authorities and the Gülen movement, intensifying after their alliance broke down. Their prior cooperation and later rupture shaped the government's explanation of the alleged plot.

Linked from 9 pages