Türkiye has appointed Gen. Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu, the current commander of the Land Forces, as the new Chief of the General Staff, following decisions made at the annual meeting of the Supreme Military Council (Yüksek Askerî Şûra, YAŞ) held on Tuesday.

The high-level military meeting, attended by top civilian and military officials, focused on promotions, retirements, and reassignments within the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK).

According to a statement released after the meeting, Gen. Metin Gürak, who has served as the Chief of General Staff since 2023, will retire at the end of August. Gen. Bayraktaroğlu, who has been leading the Land Forces since 2023, will assume the role of Türkiye’s top military officer.

First Army Commander Gen. Metin Tokel has been appointed as the new Land Forces Commander.

Additionally, Navy Commander Adm. Ercüment Tatlıoğlu and Air Forces Commander Gen. Ziya Cemal Kadıoğlu will remain in their posts for another year.

The council also approved a number of significant promotions across the ranks: 32 generals and one admiral were promoted to higher ranks, while 61 colonels have been elevated to the general staff. Furthermore, the terms of duty were extended for 29 generals for one year and for 478 colonels for two years.

As a result of the YAŞ decisions, the total number of generals and admirals in the Turkish Armed Forces has increased from 316 to 332.

The Supreme Military Council convenes annually to shape the command structure of the Turkish military and assess leadership for the coming term. This year’s reshuffle comes amid Türkiye's evolving regional defense posture and ongoing military modernization efforts. (ILKHA)