Analyst: Turkish military capability undiminished

Murat Yesiltas, director of security studies at the Turkish pro-government SETA Foundation think tank, told MEE that the post-coup cleanup of the military will not diminish the operational capabilities of the armed forces in any way, as Turkish forces begin operations in northern Syria.

“The Turkish military is fully capable of conducting its operations against Daesh," he said, using an alternative name for Islamic State. "The post-coup scenario doesn’t impact the Turkish military in any way as far as the Syrian theatre is concerned."

He also stressed that this operation was being carried out in cooperation with US-led coalition forces and any shortfall in Turkey’s current aerial capability would be addressed that way.

The post-coup crackdown saw many pilots dismissed and even the defence minister had admitted to a shortfall of combat pilots.