Probe reveals FETO's eight-month planning for July 15 coup

An investigation by Turkish authorities has determined that Fetullah Terrorist Organization operatives spent eight months coordinating the July 15, 2016 coup attempt through secret meetings held across Ankara, Istanbul and the US state of Pennsylvania, following direct instructions from the group's leader Fetullah Gulen.

Planning launched after electoral setback

The probe found that FETO initiated its plan immediately after the Nov. 1, 2015 general elections, when Gulen realized his efforts to seize state control through political channels had failed at the ballot box. The organization's first strategic sessions took place in Pennsylvania on Nov. 14-15, 2015, where the core leadership of the coup network was established under the direction of the US-based cleric.

Military coordination across two continents

Following these initial meetings, the junta's civilian leadership—led by Adil Oksuz, Kemal Batmaz, Hakan Cicek, Nurettin Oruc, Harun Binis and Ozcan Aytuluner—shuttled between Türkiye and the United States to finalize operational details. The group held its first coordination sessions with military members in Ankara between Dec. 27-31, 2015, subsequently reporting back to Gulen for approval. Preparations accelerated through early 2016, with senior officers convening at safe houses in January, February and March to identify participating military units and draft deployment plans for vehicles, helicopters and fighter jets.

Final preparations and US consultations

By mid-March 2016, these draft plans were transported to Pennsylvania for Gulen's personal review. Meetings continued in Ankara throughout May and June, culminating in a critical visit by Oksuz, Batmaz and Oruc to Pennsylvania between June 20-25, where they received final operational instructions regarding the timing and execution.

The group then convened for uninterrupted sessions at a rented Ankara villa from July 6-9, mapping strategic locations to seize in both Ankara and Istanbul alongside public officials marked for detention. Days before the attempt, Oksuz and Batmaz traveled to Pennsylvania for a final consultation on July 12, documented as the "Final Evaluation of Coup Preparations," before returning to Istanbul on July 13.

Execution timeline and popular resistance

Final coordination occurred at Maltepe Barracks, the Air Force Academy and the Air Force War College between July 12-15, with numerous generals gathering at the Academy despite lacking official assignments there. The plotters failed to anticipate the popular resistance that followed President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s call to the nation, as Turkish citizens took to the streets to defeat the coup on the evening of July 15.