Ankara: Trkiye's Supreme Military Council on Tuesday appointed Gen. Selcuk Bayraktaroglu as the new chief of General Staff. At the 2025 council meeting held at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, promotions, term adjustments, and retirements of military leadership in the Turkish Armed Forces were discussed and decided upon with the approval of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

According to Anadolu Agency, Gen. Metin Gurak, the previous chief of General Staff, retired due to staff reductions and was replaced by Bayraktaroglu. Starting Aug. 30, 32 generals and admirals will be promoted to higher ranks, while 61 colonels will be elevated to the ranks of general and admiral. Additionally, the terms of 29 generals will be extended by one year, and 478 colonels will have their terms extended by two years.

As of Sept. 1, two generals are set to retire due to mandatory retirement, and as of Aug. 30, 43 generals and admirals will also retire as part of staff reductions.